Grounds for JavaTM
Software Engineering with Java, a "Nuts and Bolts"
Perspective (plus)
Inside the New IBM Technology VM for Java
Meeting will be held on February 21, 2007.
This is a combination of several Java topics.
Topic 1: Software Engineering with JavaTM - a "Nuts and Bolts"
Perspective
"Software engineering" is one of those 'buzzword' terms that folks
love to hate. In all honesty, how can something as ill-defined and
fuzzy as software be "engineered?" After all, programming is an art
- not a science - right? Right?
"Not so fast!" is the warning this session boldly offers. By drawing
parallels between hardware and software designs, desires and
outcomes, this session will motivate you to think about software -
particularly Java software - in new ways.
By the end of this session, you will be able to draw parallels
between software and hardware by:
- Recognizing how "traditional" engineering principles apply to
software
- Approaching software as you might approach any "engineered
material"
- Recognizing the importance of the software developers' tool set, and
- Applying engineering principles to your own software development
Topic 2: Inside the New IBM Technology VM for JavaTM
A hallmark of Java programming is "Write Once Run Anywhere" - the
notion that Java source code compiles into platform-independent
object code. A clear consequence of this WORA design is that every platform
supporting Java must first support a "virtual machine" (VM) for Java
- a piece of software that understands and runs Java object code.
Of course, virtualization can only go so far. All "virtual" machines
must finally have a "real" machine - with a real operating system -
under them, to satisfy their "virtualized" requirements with
"actual" resources.
This session outlines these "VM-level" requirements, focusing
particularly on the way they are imposed by the new IBM Technology
for Java VM on i5/OS, and describes how each requirement is being
satisified.
By the end of this session, you will understand:
- the general principles of a virtual machine for Java,
- the characterization of O/S requirements that VMs must impose, and
- the specifics of i5/OS support for the new IBM Technology VM for Java.