Eric Armstrong's Weblog http://www.artima.com/weblogs/index.jsp?blogger=cooltools Artima Weblogs is a community of bloggers posting on a wide range of topics of interest to software developers. Artima.com http://www.artima.com/images/artima88x33.gif http://www.artima.com/ Computer About to Play Jeopardy http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=317444 Feb 14-16, IBM's "Watson" is going to be playing Jeopardy. JavaOne 2010: Functional Programming, from Java to Scala http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=306337 Dick Wall's talk turns out to be a treasure trove of useful tidbits, and a great introduction to Scala that whets my appetite, big time. JavaOne 2010: Upcoming Java Features http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=306336 An overview of upcoming features in Java. JavaOne 2010: Trials and Tribulations http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=306335 A few weeks ago, I wondered if generics were going to be the death of Java. But today, I began to wonder if Oracle might just manage to do it in a lot more quickly. JavaOne 2010: Article Roundup http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=306334 This umbrella article encompasses newsworthy items gleaned from the show, with pointers to the content pieces. Have Generics Killed Java? http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=299081 In which I argue that (a) Generics have done egregious harm to both the elegance and readability of the Java language and, (b) they prove by example that static type checking is a linguistic dead-end. Are you persuaded? Do you agree? Read on... Reviewable, Runnable Specifications Ensure Software Quality http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=294984 I just read a good introduction to what is arguably the most important part of the agile development process, when it comes to quality. It does a good job of explaining that the real goal is not to “test” your code after you write it, but rather to create a “runnable specification” before you write it. Yahoo Groups Set a Standard for User Frustration http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=248333 After being let go from Sun, I find that I can no longer get group messages, I can't connect to change my profile, and I can't contact them for help. In a word, I'm hosed. This post was the only remaining way to (hopefully) reach them. JavaOne 2008, Day Four: Wrap Up and Awards http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230383 A collection of miscellaneous observations and my "Best Of" awards. JavaOne 2008, Day Three: Riding the Rails http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230361 Yesterday's post was about "why". Today's is about "how". JavaOne 2008, Day Two: JRuby, Rails, and NetBeans http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230311 Why you want Rails for your web app, why you want JRuby on Rails for deployment, and why you want NetBeans for Rails development. JavaOne 2008, Day One: Conference 2.0 and JRuby Notes http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230227 The need for a "Conference 2.0" format and a collection of JRuby notes. JavaOne 2008, Day Zero: Community Day, Development Tools http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230163 A better hotel, collaboration tools, and development tools. JavaOne 2008, Day Minus One: Non-Profit Networking & Horrible Hotel http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=230089 Sun provides a good opportunity for non-profits to network with prospective developers, and a hotel horror story. Ruby + DSLs = Power Tool "Ecosystem" http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=223054 In both Ruby and DITA, domain specific languages make elegance possible. More importantly, each is producing an ecosystem of domain specific languages (aka "power tools") that is making it more powerful as time goes on.