something to learn/do ?

[imported_adam]

Hi, I have been off programming for like a month now and feel I need to get back at it, but I dont know with what. I need something to get me motivated again. I have a few options, but I would like it to be usefull. Thinking about XML, MySQL, jsp/servlets javabeans? I dont have that much time to dispose so I would like to concentrate on one thing. What would me most usefull to learn? thanks for your time.

/adam

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Here's an interesting project. Go to http://castor.exolab.org/ and get the free Castor library. Build an application that returns a java bean with some kind of info in it. Castor will turn that java bean into XML. The client can take that xml and marshall it back into a java object.

To make it really cool you can make a servlet return the xml. That way any program can call this servlet (passing it parameters to determine what kind of data to get back) and then turn that xml stream back into a java object.

If you get to that point then you've almost written a Java Web Service. Once you understand that you can go to http://ws.apache.org/axis/ and build a real web service.

You'll need to have apache and tomcat (both available at apache.org for free) to run servlets. But that's a good thing to know how to do.

A LOT of web sites (Amazon.com and Union Bank www.uboc.com for example) run on Java servlets with big Oracle database on the back end. So understanding how to write web applications in Java is a very popular skill right now.

[_underdog]

Wow... I don't know how I missed Castor. I try and keep up with all the latest open source APIs that are out there. Apache-Jackarta is a great place to find good resources. I am going to have to check out Castor. It looks very powerful.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I can post some Castor code examples if you want.

Or would you rather play with it first?

[imported_adam]

Okey thanks for the replys.

I have made some reserch about writing jsp's, servlets and javabeans, and how to parse xml. I am just overhelmed(spelling?).

What should I start with?!?
And do you have any good free online resource on that subject? Thanks.

Actually peaked at some C# but found it to be to microsoft'ish. Sticking with Java =)

[_underdog]

I have been looking into Castor-JDO for doing database interactions. I like the idea of being able to persist normal java classes. I had looked a EJB in the past. Seemed a little heavy and complicated. Here were a few articles I found helpful in getting started.
http://javaboutique.internet.com/Map_Java_Objects/
http://javaboutique.internet.com/tutorials/cultiv_CastorJDO/

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I have made some reserch about writing jsp's, servlets and javabeans, and how to parse xml. I am just overhelmed(spelling?).

Check out my servlet/jsp tutorial here
http://www.sourcereview.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=49

That should help you

[Smerdyakov]

Personally, I would recommend learning a new programming paradigm, like functional or logic programming.