techno.blog("Dion")

The old chestnut of “Java vs. .NET” has reared its head again (e.g. Java vs. Microsoft .Net debate rages).

I actually wished that one of the instant audience polls would have been:

How would like like TheServerSide to include other technologies outside of Java?

• Only Java Tech please! This is your niche! Have a TSS.NET conference for that stuff
• Other fringe tech, but from the point of view of an enterprise Java guy
• I have to work in a heterogenous environment, so would love a hard core .NET track. Besides. I don’t have to go :)

The reason I mention this, is that I think the community has chilled out from the days of “oh man, I hope .NET doesn’t take over!”.

Now, several years have passed, and J2EE is doing fine. .NET is doing fine too. We can live in harmony ;)

These days, a lot of developers work in the world of both Java and .NET. In fact, what does it even mean to be an “enterprise Java developer”.

Why, just today I wrote SQL, Java, JavaScript, ruby, Groovy, bash, and had to look at XML. Hardly Java only :)

Now the politics has died down, I think there is a lot to gain by having a conference where the camps mix. I enjoyed my time at MS Tech Ed last year, and learnt a few things.

Are we ready?

I have a fun and busy couple of weeks coming up:

TheServerSide Symposium

This week I will be in Vegas for the 3rd TSS Symposium. It is always a pleasure to see everyone, have some good geek talk, and some drinks ;)

I am going to be presenting on AJaX technology, Groovy, and may even be on a panel ;)

Microsoft Developer Technology Summit

I am really looking forward to the Microsoft summit, with the likes of Matt Raible, Ben Galbraith, and everyone else. It will be really interesting to see what Microsoft has to say to us, how they pitch it, etc. I am going to soak up having the time to spend looking at Indigo and the like.

I was even going to see if Don would like to bring in his kids to do some Ruby, but I guess now It’s down to Scheme or Logo :)

AOSD

AOSD is in Chicago this year, which is nicely down the road. I will be chairing a panel, and spending time with great guys to discuss libraries for AspectJ 5, which I am really excited about.

All, in all, a great few weeks! I hope to see some of you there!

Bill Gates to Receive Honorary UK Knighthood.

This was brought to my attention from a friend IM’ing me:

Lloyd: man they give that crap to anyone.

Of course, we won’t call him ‘Sir’ since he isn’t a brit. Although, if he gave enough money I am sure the monarchy would change that rule ;)