Java is a general-purpose, concurrent, class-based, object-oriented programming language that is specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers "write once, run anywhere".

With its powerful VM, robust platform, large set of tools, libraries and frameworks, and enormous open source community, Java established itself as one of the most important software tools of today.

Mankind creates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day - 90% of all data ever created was produced in the last two years alone.

It comes from everywhere and can be anything - sensor data, social media information, digital pictures, videos or music, purchase transaction records, GPS signals... This is big data.

Its volume is what makes it big as it is ever-growing and will never stop. Velocity is another important dimension as, from processing perspective, sometimes only for a short period late is far too late.

We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

So, you wrote your mobile app.

Your funny adventure game.

Your commercial web service.

Your enterprise solution.

But does it work? Does it work what you wanted it to work? Does it have any "hidden treasures"?

Is it perfomant? Or, is it slow as a snail?

How do you know that?

"The only thing that you can do with an F-22 that does not require software is take a picture of it." - Lt. Gen Fain

This quote is almost correct as it fails to recognize that camera being used is also packed with software.

Software is everywhere.

Software is the root cause of most of today's system problems.

The quality of software is determined by its architecture. Create good architecture and you will have an easy life.

Probably.

Relational databases were never designed to cope with the scale and agility that modern applications are facing.

NoSQL databases have emerged in response to these challenges and in response to the new opportunities provided by low-cost commodity hardware and cloud-based deployment environments - and natively support the modern application deployment environment, reducing the need for developers to maintain separate caching layers or write and maintain sharding code.

Modern businesses and modern society ask for software development that is faster and cheaper than it was ever before. Markets are demanding quick answers to unstable and ever-changing requirements specifications.

This is where script languages can help a lot - paired with powerful platforms such as Java, they can provide necessary speed and can ease the work.

Ruby, Groovy, Python, Erlang... Just to name a few. Interesting enough to make you wish to work with them and powerful enough to scare you.

cloud com•put•ing

Noun

The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server...

Cloud computing as a technology trend has caught up fast in recent years. It has revolutionized IT in a way never seen before and has clearly changed how the traditional software works for businesses.

It is helping businesses scale operations and optimizes their investments - not only through lower costs - but in a way businesses use it to optimize their investments.

By 2013, mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common way to access the internet.

In 2012, there were 1.2 billion app users worldwide. By 2017, the number is expected to grow to 4.4 billion.

Estimates for downloads of apps in 2013 range from 56 to 82 billion. In 2017, there could be 200 billion downloads.

Analysts estimate that app revenues could be US$20-25 billion in 2013 which could triple by 2017.

Any question why mobile?

Yeah, we thought not.