OO Programming Newsletter #34 from Bruce Eckel December 2001 = = = Contents = = = * Thinking in Python Now Available * New tools * XML to Soap to System Integration Seminar * Objects & Patterns Seminar * Thinking in Java Hits the Road * Hosting the Thinking in Java Seminar * Java2 Enterprise Programming Seminar * Design Patterns Applied Seminar See the Calendar for the current schedule: http://www.mindview.net/Calendar =================================== * Thinking in Python Now Available I've posted the first early alpha version (0.1.2) of "Thinking in Python." You can go to the page that connects you to the download here: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIPython Please note: 1) This is not an introductory book. I couldn't bring myself to write yet another introductory language tutorial, and there are already plenty of good ones out there. This is "Design Patterns in Python," so I can use any language features or advanced techniques that I want, without apology (hooray!). However, at the beginning of the book there is the start of a one-chapter crash course in Python (for programmers) to which I will be adding. 2) This is an early translation of "Thinking in Patterns," so parts of it have not yet been translated. I've tried to mark those chapters, but please be patient. 3) This uses some of the features in the latest version of Python (2.2, just released in final form at www.Python.org) so you must have that version installed in order to run the examples. The source code is in the download package. When you unzip everything (remember to use the -a flag with unzip if you're on Unix), the code will be put into subdirectories for each chapter. In addition, this book debuts my new 'BackTalk' comment collection system that I built in Zope. A note: as might be expected, Python has been the easiest language in which to implement design patterns that I've yet encountered. It's very likely that the patterns material will be written in Python first, then translated into the Java version. =================================== * New tools This month I've come across three tools of note: 1) The IBM/Open-source Eclipse IDE editor, which is extensible using Java, and comes with a Java editing toolset. However, it's designed to be extended to support any language: http://www.eclipse.org/ 2) Does inconsistent code formatting drive you to distraction, even though you "know" it shouldn't? You're not alone. The Extreme Programming (XP) folks, in particular, have observed that consistent code formatting within a project is important. Here's the JACOBE Java Code Beautifier, a free reformatting tool for Java Source code: http://www.tiobe.com/jacobe.htm 3) Not a new tool, but new status: the Calypso email client is now freeware. I've used it for several years. If you're fed up with outlook or outlook express, try it. Here's one site: http://10xshooters.com/calypso-free/ =================================== * XML to Soap to System Integration The XML Seminar will be held March 11-15 in San Diego, CA (Dave Bartlett will be teaching the course, but I will be on site hosting the course and helping out). There will also be one May 13-17 at the Prague mini-conference. This seminar will not simply cover the syntax and programming of XML, but will emphasize the primary strength of XML, which is the integration of disparate systems through the common tongue provided by this languge. http://www.mindview.net/Seminars/XML =================================== * Objects & Patterns in March The next Objects & Patterns seminar is is February 25 - March 1 in San Diego, CA; there will also be one May 13-17 at the Prague mini-conference. Please note this is a more advanced seminar; you should have the equivalent of the Thinking in Java Hands-On Seminar before coming. http://www.mindview.net/Seminars/ObjectsAndPatterns =================================== * Thinking in Java Hits the Road We've decided to bring the Thinking in Java seminar closer to you, and we've chosen 3 cities for the first tour: Chicago, Atlanta and Boston. For detailed information and registrations, please see http://www.mindview.net/Seminars/ThinkingInJava These are the dates and locations of the first tour: - TIJ Chicago Lombard, IL February 4-8 2002, hosted by MKS, Inc. http://www.mks.com - TIJ Atlanta, GA March 25-29 2002, hosted by Center for Manufacturing Information Technology http://cmit.edi.gatech.edu/Atlanta/CMIT_visitors.htm - TIJ Boston April 2002 - Dates and venue to be announced soon =================================== * Hosting the Thinking in Java Seminar If you have a small group of in-house developers who want to attend the Thinking in Java seminar, here's a possibility. If your organization has a training room equipped with a whiteboard, a projector and desks with a minimum capacity of 15 people, and you are willing to host one of the future stops of the Thinking in Java Tour, we will give you a considerable discount on the in-house people that you send to the seminar. We believe this is most cost-effective, high-quality training opportunity around. By keeping your people on-site, you eliminate travel and lodging expenses. And this way, you can have the seminar in-house even if you have only one or two people to train. At this time, we are looking for venues in Boston and Seattle, but we are not limited to those areas. =================================== * Design Patterns Applied Seminar April 29-May 3, Seattle, WA Taught by Bruce Eckel and Alan Shalloway (author of "Design Patterns Explained"). A hands-on design course focusing on the process of creating and reviewing designs. Not language specific, but you should have a background in at least one OO language. There's a $300 discount if you've had the "Objects & Patterns" seminar already. http://www.netobjectives.com/c_dpa.htm ___| Until Next Time... |________________________ Java programming questions: http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/JavaQuestions.html Speaking & Seminar schedule: http://www.mindview.net/Calendar/ Anyone can sign up for this free newsletter by sending an email to join-eckel-oo-programming@earth.lyris.net. Bruce Eckel http://www.mindview.net