strange symphonies

Sun Tech Days: Day 2

Before I continue, I better off and just tell everyone I didn’t win the Ultra 20 machine. Now if anyone wants to donate one to me, I’m more than happy to accept it.

During parts of my boredom on the first day, I started to think “Why did Sun have this event?”

• Sun’s advance against Microsoft’s Tech Ed
• Because Open Source isn’t lifting off in Malaysia
• Sun’s reinforcement of its image

The day opened with a very interesting keynote. It highlighted the government’s preference policy towards the adoption of Open Source. Talked about the large Open Source presence in Malaysia, and was general in great support of Open Source. I say “Open Source” because there was not a single mention of “Free Software“, similarly it only utilized the Open Source Initiative definition of what a software would be deemed “Open Source“. This is sad, especially with Sun recently becoming a corporate patron of the Free Software Foundation.

With the mention of wanting to have another Sun Tech Days the following year, I thought it started answering the question’s above. Sure it might be labeled as a “worldwide developer conference“, but it has the potential to be used for as other things. Especially with the number of goodies they gave away throughout the event! JavaOne conference, iPod nanos, Ultra 20, lots of shirts, lots of dukes, dvds, bags, etc. Good propaganda man. People will be talking about it, I already am.
They also did a good job of literally keeping the people at the conference. This was done by placing incentives to come early (raffle for an iPod nano), to stay by the end of the day (free shirts, and a bag), attend talks (they threw free shirts and dukes out to the crowd), fill out forms (random free stuff: iPod nanos, leather jackets, etc).

At other events I’ve been to, generally the crowd shrinks to about halfsize by lunch time.

My favorite track for the day would have to be the “Software Failure Happens: Deal With It!” by Bill Venners of atrima developer fame. It was actually very informative, and helped to solidify how Exception handling should be used. Similarly it was not too introductory to bore me.

Though VMWare’s presentation was all marketing, I have to admit that it was really good. Really was A+ material. Introductory (but not slow), technical (at the same time alot, but not too much), great slides, rehearsed, entertaining, informative.

The last track of the day was an AJAX track. Really a starter’s track to AJAX. But they made it SO complicated, like REALLY complicated. It was also my first hand experience at looking how JSF worked, and it just seemed ugly, and tedious. I wanted to go up on stage, take over the announcer and show her how its done in Ruby on Rails.

Though the announcer slammed JavaScript, complained about its dynamic typing, an interpreted language, and more. Also claimed that if you were writing JavaScript, its best to ignore JavaScript’s idioms and write it as if your writing Java. Which I would most disagree with. The only thing I would most agree with is that browsers interpret JavaScript differently. Yes I am looking at you naughty browser Internet Explorer.

The slides were alright, it did demonstrate other JavaScript libraries (Dojo, only mentioned Prototype), JavaScript debugging, and was quite technical actually, a bit too much.

If your curious, they said they would upload the slides within a weeks time.

Overall, the promotion of OpenSolaris was based on the free (as in low cost) of it. There was a lot of marketing emphasized on its technical merit, which I can’t exactly disqualify as I didn’t know of any. Interesting how Ruby was mentioned avlot throughout the whole event, this also included Ruby On Rails.

Throughout this event Sun definitely wanted to look like a good guy. Much emphasis on the “opening” of Solaris, and Java, and giving it away for free.

Recommendations:

• Get local (foss) developers to talk. Though I would prefer FOSS developers, just getting more local people to show case their stuff is important to show that we, as Malaysians, are moving forward. We can produce stuff.
• Start/Emphasis/Help local (Open)Solaris/Java User Groups.
• Get students to talk, its can make a stronger point to the students attending.
• Its Free Software also damnit!

These are the DVDs I have collected at the event. If you’d like a copy do ping me.

• Solaris Starter Kit ( 2 DVDs)
  • i learn DVD
    • Learning Materials
    • Nexenta OS LiveCD
    • BeleniX LiveCD
    • SchilliX LiveCD

    i install DVD

    • Solaris Express Community Release b54
    • Nexenta OS Alpha 6 Install
    • OpenSolaris Source
    • Sun Studio 11
• Solaris Express Developer Edition (2/07) (1 DVD)
• Sun Developer Network All Access Kit (January 2007) (2 DVDs)