Top 10 Most Useful Websites for Java Developers

List of most effective and trustworthy resources about Java Technology. 

Below is the list of most effective and trustworthy resources about Java Technology. These could be very useful and interesting for Java programmers. I have been using these resources since many years for finding latest information about Java technologies.

1. Oracle Java Technology Home Pages (https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/)

The site Contains information about almost everything you need to know related to Java including news, articles, blogs, certifications, career options and information related to Java projects. Visit this page frequently to keep yourself up to date about Java Platform.

2. Java Download Page (https://www.oracle.com/in/java/technologies/javase-downloads.html)

This is the right place to visit if you are looking to download and install the latest Java Development Kit. It also provides detailed instructions about how to run the Java installer on various platforms.  

3. Java API Reference (https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/) 

This site contains API specification for Java SE. The HTML documentation is generated from the Java source code using the JavaDoc tool.  

4. The Java Tutorial (https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/)

This site contains collection of tutorials and reference guides for the Java Programming Language. These lessons are also available in the book form as The Java Tutorial, Sixth Edition. Check this URL to purchase this book online https://www.amazon.com/The-Java-Tutorial-Course-Edition/dp/0134034082

5. Java Ranch (http://www.javaranch.com)

The site contains mock tests and useful resources for learning various topics ranging from java, databases, android and preparation for certifications. it's a very nice place for learning Java through Fun.

6. Java EE related projects on GitHub (https://javaee.github.io)

This site contains projects related to Java EE and other projects earlier hosted in Java.net. You can find various project home pages for more information about them and contact details associated with these projects.

7. Javapedia (https://www.javapedia.net/)

Visit this site to follow discussions, Q&A about Java technologies and frameworks. Javapedia.net is also useful for Java and Java EE developers, technologist and college students preparing for interviews.

8. TheServerSide.com (http://www.theserverside.com) 

The site contains information about the latest technology in Java Enterprise edition. This is the place where java developers discuss about various topics related to Java, Java EE, programming, software  and trends in server-side development. It is very big online community for enterprise Java architects and developers, providing daily news, tech talks and webinars etc.

9. Java.com (https://www.java.com)

This is the place where you can find Latest Java Software (Games, Mobile and Desktop applications). It's legitimate and safe place to install java plug-in. Other sites may show some fake pop-up and trick you into downloading software that isn't actually java.

10. Go.Java (https://go.java)

This site claims to provides resources about how Java powers the innovation behind our digital world. It contains collection of resources on Java Platform for Students, Hobbyists, Developers, and IT Leaders.  

Although there are plenty of similar lists over the internet about useful resources on Java. However, I have found many have become outdated and are showing information which are relevant only up to Java 5. 

After Java 8, the language have gone through major overhaul requiring significant changes in the approach towards Java programming. The language is also evolving very fast with a six month release cadence for new version of Java. At the time of writing this article the current version was Java 15. 

I have written this article to enable Java developers at all levels to be more productive and efficient on your java projects by using its latest features.  In case you come across more such interesting and useful resource on Java do share it in the comments section.

Certificate on Java from HackerRank.

Earned the Certificate on Java from HackerRank. basic topics in Java language such as classes, data structures, inheritance, exception handling, etc. testing your proficiency in Java 8. https://www.hackerrank.com/certificates/92ae35b4e609 Would highly recommend others to take this test to hone Java programming skill.

More about Adobe Flash Platform & SAP Integration

Rich Islands for Adobe Flash Platform - Flex 3.0 SDK support for SAP NetWeaver was introduced on the Java stack as of 711 SP2 and on the ABAP stack as of 701 SP3 and 711 SP2.  Because of incompatibilies with Flex SDK versions it is required that Flex SDK 3.0 is used to compile a Flash Island.  In particular Flex 3.4 introduces an incompatible change to an interface.  

Flex SDK 3.4 is therefore not supported.  Please see the Adobe bug here: 
https://bugs.adobe.com/jira/browse/SDK-23171

How to create a colorpicker in SAP WebDynpro ABAP using Adobe Flex - A step-by-step guide on how to create an Adobe Flex component in Flash Builder and adding the SAP WD Libraries and integrating it with SAP WebDynpro ABAP UI. 

References:

A Book about Developing SAP Applications with Adobe Flex:
http://www.sappress.com/product.cfm?account=&product=H1951

Demonstration Video of Adobe Flex application on top of SAP:
http://my.adobe.acrobat.com/flexsappoc/

Related articles

• SAP Netweaver 7.4(novisblog.wordpress.com)

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• What is Web Dynpro?(wd4a.wordpress.com)

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Pros & Cons of use of Adobe Flex for iPhone/iPad Developers

Below are the pros and cons of Adobe Flex (http://www.adobe.com/products/flex.html) environment for iOS development.

Pros:
1. No specific Hardware need: No need for Mac OS X system for development ( works on both platforms Mac & Windows).
2. Code sharing across multiple platforms: Run the same code on other mobile platforms (BlackBerry Playbook and Android), desktops & web applications (browsers)
3. SAP Data Integration: Ease of integration with SAP backend & Web Services (or to other standard data sources)
4. Improvement Developer Productivity (Adobe Flex / ActionScript would be easier to learn for a Java developer than Objective C).
5. Design Time Integration: Eclipse based developer (Flash Builder) environment or developer tools can be integrated with SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio.
6. Low Training Cost, there are plenty of examples and development tutorials available for free to get started with Adobe Flex. 
7. SAP NetWeaver GateWay Integration: https://community.wdf.sap.corp/sbs/groups/adobe-flex/blog/2011/09/02/flash-builder-and-sap-netweaver-gateway-integration
Cons:
1. Dependency on Flash Platform.
2. Licensing Cost of Software:  Cost of Development tool, Adobe Flash Builder Premium license costs $699. (on single license purchase, there may be discounted price for bulk purchase)

For Whom Do I Write ?

Software Development Community (Photo credit: Michael Kappel)

Background

In 2005, I was building Java based Web applications for fetching information using SAP services. To execute my application I need to deploy it to Java EE Server and when the user requests the app.

It would require an small JavaScript footprint to load and HTML code generation in backend before the application screen would be displayed to the user. Users can perform operations on SAP systems by performing actions such as clicking a button or submitting a form, the input data was send to SAP back end in the form HTTP request with XML payload, and after processing this input the result would be delivered to the user via HTTP responses again in XML format which needs to be interpreted in the client side to be displayed in human readable form.

The available technologies was unable to provide satisfactory experience to my customers as lot of delay was involved at the client side for loading high volume data. Presentation of data in charts and graphs was often resulting in browser crashes. The results were often ugly and uninteresting to look at.

I started evaluating different technologies to improve my existing applications. I didn't wanted to use plain JavaScript / HTML due to code manageability issues as my applications would have large and complex code base, was requiring enterprise quality. 

I did some prototypes using open source framework OpenLaszlo. But found it little risky to invest my time and effort into it as I was not sure about the roadmap and commitment of open source community. Flex was a great alternate to openLaszlo as it was backed by enterprise (started by Macromedia and later Adobe till 2011).

I started working on Flex Framework and results were impressive cross browser and cross platform web user interfaces (later desktop integration through AIR and mobile also arrived). 

Now as many competitive technologies have matured and its worth reviewing Flex and what lessons we can learn from this great developer friendly technology.

Who should read my Blogs

• Java Project Managers and Architects working on Java projects.
• Product manager & Product owners working on Web & Mobile applications / products
• Enterprise IT team members. 
• Tech-savvy managers, architects and developers looking for the best Rich Internet Application platforms for their projects
• Senior professionals from software development organization units exploring about benefits of mobility and RIAs and what it takes to port existing applications for mobile devices and to RIAs.
• and Finally for Decision makers responsible for the success of their online businesses, (both external  or internal facing).

Related articles

• Report highlights rise of enterprise mobility(lenovo.com)

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• Business intelligence on a mobile device is now a 'must-have' feature(ibm.com)

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• Raw Engineering taps Zoho Recruit for their Recruitment Process (blogs.zoho.com)

Flex Technology Overview

Image by rutty via Flickr

Creating a Simple Application with Adobe Flex Builder

More DIY videos at 5min.com

key points about Flex technology that is relevant to this module.

• Flex applications are compiled to SWF files.
• Flex is a programmer-centric framework and development environment for creating Flash-based rich internet applications.
• Flex applications are executed in ActionScript Virtual Machine (AVM) inside Flash Player.
• Flex is a client-side technology.
• Flex can integrate well with server-based technologies like ColdFusion, PHP, ASP.NET and Java EE.
• Flex can retrieve plain text or XML data over HTTP service.
• Flex can also retrieve Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) messages using web services.

You may also refer ActionScript Coding Convention for Flex SDK.