Architecture and Design Best Practices

Host: Patrick Linskey

While there has been an appropriate strong push back against Big Architecture and Big Design Architecture, Architecture and Design remain core to building software which lasts. Our speakers present their experiences with just enough architecture and design. In particular they focus on how to succinctly capture the architecture or design and more importantly how to communicate it so everyone understands the essence.

Cloud Computing

Host: Kresten Krab Thorup

Cloud computing is a new big trend in which infrastructure is becoming a service which is accessed virtually over the internet. New services such as those from Yahoo, Amazon, and Google provide a new foundation for simplifying and scaling the infrastructure. IBM, Dell and MS have recently introduced their own Cloud Computing initiatives. Our speakers explain the essential business and technical benefits of Cloud Computing which are a key enabler for Software As A Service highlighting similarities and differences from the OO middleware that we all take as a given

Enterprise Systems

Host: Gregor Hohpe

In this session we will look at technologies, patterns and practices for hooking enterprise systems together. This session will help attendees navigate their way through the many new industry solutions for building services oriented enterprises including EAI, SOA, SOAP/REST, Message Buses, Event Processing, BPM and BPEL as well as unconventional solutions. Our speakers have a lot of experience and a strong dose of pragmatics which will be invaluable to those building modern service oriented systems.

Languages

Host: Kresten Krab Thorup

In this session we learn the latest developments in mainstream languages such as Java, and C#. We learn more about the dynamic language support being introduced into the CLR and JVM runtimes. Finally this session also takes a look at new languages on the horizon. Speakers also discuss important tooling and education needed for the effective use of these language features.

Lean and Agile Software Development

Host: Dave Thomas

Lean and Agile Software practices offer the opportunity to move beyond the constraints of waterfall development and deployment. They provide predictability and quality which enable increased focus on new function versus maintenance. Agile is well known to work well in a small team who has the benefit of a captive customer willing to deploy when ready. In this session we look at Lean and Agile in larger organizations where there are many teams, fixed deadlines and supporting product architect and platforms. Our speakers share their experience in introducing and using Lean and Agile practices in complex IT and engineering environments.

New Frontiers 1

Host: Dave Thomas

In this off-the-beaten-track session, we look at emerging device technologies including new modes of input and output such as voice, multi-touch, sensors, RFIDs; situational application development: location awareness, and robotics. This is a world where modern hardware hackers thrive and where hardware software co-design isn't just a good idea, it is essential to success.

New Frontiers 2

Host: Dave Thomas

In this off-the-beaten-track session, we look at emerging device technologies including new modes of input and output such as voice, multi-touch, sensors, RFIDs; situational application development: location awareness, and robotics. This is a world where modern hardware hackers thrive and where hardware software co-design isn't just a good idea, it is essential to success.

New Programming Models

Host: Patrick Linskey

Programming models enable developers to effectively exploit hardware improvements to solve new and challenging problems. SOA and OO for example exploit 3T architectures which are popular in today's enterprises. Hardware advances now allow massive distributed data centers with 10000s of computers. Individual multi-core chips supporting many CPUs with the potential of 100s in only a few years. Next generation applications demand massive data volumes. Programming has moved beyond the realm of the professional to end users collaborating over the Internet. These technologies capabilities and application mandate new emerging programming models which go beyond the current client-server mainframe models of the past.

Professional Practices

Host: Erik Dörnenburg

In the last fifty years the software industry has gone from the infancy of a few scientists and engineers tinkering with patch boards and binary registers to the relative maturity of millions of programmers using Agile practices to write Object-Oriented programs running on virtual machines. During this long road to adolescence, we have learned a thing or two about our craft. But have we learned enough to sufficiently describe our craft? Can we define what it means to be a professional programmer? Can we list the dos and dont's that we all agree to? Or is our profession still best described as "Each person does what is right in his own eyes"?

Scripting and DSLs

Host: Kresten Krab Thorup

A big trend is to find a shorter path from idea to development. The goal is to reduce the distance between business requirement and the code which implements the requirement. Technologies such as Ruby and developments in Domain Specific Languages try to do that. They provide low barrier solutions which enable rapid development and deployment. These technologies improve the developer productivity. Our speakers present these key technologies and also explain where and when their use is appropriate.

Server Platforms

Host: Patrick Linskey

This session covers new developments in technologies, capabilities and tooling for server side development and deployment. Java and DotNet experts present the latest capabilities; discuss the challenges and opportunities in server-side development. Dynamic Runtimes, Virtualization, Cross Platform Development and Deployment, high performance access to structured and unstructured data, enhanced concurrency models are some of the topics discussed. Our speakers discuss how these improvements in functionality can enhance server applications.

Web 2.0

Host: Kresten Krab Thorup

Gone are the days of static web pages and simple state transitions. In its place are full blown applications running in a browser window with features such as real time updates and offline usage. Ajax, Flash, and Java applications are including features that were thought impossible just a year ago. This track will cover the key technologies/individuals in the Web 2.0 space which are leading the way to push the limits of what can be done in the browser.