Brian TerBush

Technology

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1. Java Technologies
2. Patterns
3. Development Tools

1. Java Technologies

Primarily I develop in Java these days.

To keep up, I regularly use these technical resources:

• JavaReport magazine, which I receive in hard copy for all the information, and so I can read it anywhere and anytime.
• Java Developer's Journal, also in hard copy.
• Sun's Java web site
• Sun's Java Developer Connection
• Gamelan Java Repository
• IBM AlphaWorks

2. Patterns

I find patterns to be essential tools and concepts in good object oriented software design. In fact, everyone on our team is required to read the essential GOF (Gang Of Four- the 4 authors) patterns book:

Design Patterns : Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software (Addison-Wesley Professional Computing)

3. Development Tools

My current set of development/management tools, all of whose use I have influenced or recommended.

• Apache. Cross platform, fast commercial-grade free implementation of an HTTP (Web) server.
• JavaDoc: Our coding standards require accurate and concise java source documentation.
• JBuilder. It has its problems but currently my favorite. Easy to right plug-ins for it.
• JTest: Performs static analysis (enforcing good source standards) and white box testing. We refer unit testing to JUnit.
• JUnit: This is a free testing harness. We use it extensively, writing tests for nearly all classes I create. The tests ensure that the class performs according to requirements.
• Objectivity: Highly scalable object database. Reduced development time.
• OptimizeIt: Used to profile Java classes. It has been indispensable in locating bottlenecks, memory leaks, etc.
• Oracle: The best relational database, we use this on most projects.
• PVCS: We use this on most projects now especially nice for the telecommute.
• Rational Rose: CASE tool. We use it in our lightweight process whenever we do top level design of a subsystem. We make extensive use of activity and sequence diagrams before developing basic class structures.
• SourceSafe: Simple to use version control for very small projects.
• Visio: Flowchart software for everyday use. Great for documentation, and conveying technical concepts in a visual manner.
• Visual Cafe. As a secondary development IDE, and to fill in the gap for user interface development where JBuilder leaves off.
• Weblogic Application Server The best application server out there.
• ZeroG InstallAnywhere: Used to create product installations. I am constantly on the look out for better deployment mechanisms.