I have just launched CongoJUG new Website. www.congojug.com

Congo Java User Group has new Website (French). Take a look !!
www.congojug.com

Thanks

Oracle strategy for JavaOne/JUG/Java champion

I have participated in the conference call today morning lead by Justin Kestelyn and Mary Lou Dopard from Oracle about JavaOne and Java communities.

This is my understanding and what I heard.

JavaOne :
2010
- JavaOne 2010 will still run at Moscone Center (San Francisco, Ca)
- No change on content (focus on Java technology)
– No change in process and revue
- CommunityOne still on the agenda
After 2010
- JavaOne will become a traveling event (China, Russia, India etc.)

JUGs and Java champion programs:
– The Java champion program will be supported and will not be merged with Oracle programs like ACE (good news for our Java champion Hakim…)
– The JUG program is still on the agenda, support will continue

Others:
- Java.net: Only the logo will change, the content stays the same

What about Africa?
During the conference I asked if Oracle had plans for some Java or Oracle events in Africa. Justin’s answer was something like this: No plan for JavOne in Africa but we could expect some regional events in the next years.

What’s your feeling about that?

Did you say JUG ? Java User ... What ?

Is it still possible to ask this question in 2010?

Isn’t the answer obvious ?

Well no ! It was the question I was asking myself three years ago, even though I had been working as a consultant and Java trainer for seven years. In 2007, my ex-colleague Éric Marcoux (Oracle ACE Director) suggested I join JUG Québec (Canada). I said JUG ? Java User…What ?

Several months later, I went to JavaOne 2008 and when I saw so many developers, architects, engineers from so many countries and so many amazing projects...

... and heard Matt Thompson (ex-SUN) and nearly 40 JUG Leaders talk about importance of the Java community at «Think Globally and Act Locally» session and met Micheal Levin the co-founder of the impressive West African JUG in Senegal, the question wasn’t «What’s a JUG?» anymore but rather «How can a sense of community and belonging be fostered among Java developper in Africa ?». For me the need of JUG-AFRICA became evident.

After talking with Java developpers across Africa, I think JUG-AFRICA could help address questions such as :

• How to take part in international and regional events ?
• How to increase the visibility of the communities accross the word ?
• How to create link with Java communities across the word ?

Umbrella Java User Group AFRICA

I have just created JUG-AFRICA wich will be an umbrella Java User Group (JUG) for the entire continent that country JUGs or individual JUGs can affiliate with.
Like Congo JUG, Togo JUG, RDC-JUG (Kinshasa) and Cameroon JUG are on the track to join JUG-AFRICA.

Why JUG-AFRICA ?

The idea behind JUG-AFRICA is to allow JUGs located within Africa to collaborate globally in ways that will ultimately benefit Java developer
communities locally.
JUG-AFRICA is intended to promote communication between JUGs across
continent.

Individual JUGs will continue to function normally. Affiliation does not in any way involve subordination of local JUGs under JUG-AFRICA. JUG-AFRICA exists solely to serve and support the Affiliated JUGs.

Some benefits to think about :

• Help new JUGs to grow and introducing JUG Leaders to JUG-Leaders mailing list.
• Organizing regional events throughout the continent
• Searching for sponsors and speakers
• Negotiating bulk discounts (for events, books, courses, certifications etc.) which can be made available to all Affiliates.

How to affiliate your JUG :

1. Designate a member of your JUG to serve as JUG-AFRICA Contact
2. To subscribe JUG-AFRICA Contact to the users@jug-africa.dev.java.net mailing list

PS : Thanks JUG-USA for the inspiration.

Java Goodies from SUN JUG Support

Thanks to SUN JUG Support for Java Goodies, we have just received them.
Our member are looking forward to next CongoJUG meeting.

CongoJUG is already in SUN's General community incubator

I am very happy to annonce you that, Congo Java User Groupe will soon be included officialy in SUN's Java User Group Community hosted on Java.net. We are already in SUN's General community incubator.

Bellow Eric's message.
Eric is an active member of JUG Comunity :

Hi Jean-Françcois,

I did already approve your project and place it in the General community incubator, as that follows our standard approval process
for new projects.

The next step is for the JUG Community Leaders to review the project for inclusion to the JUG Community, which is all
but a formality at this point considering the level of maturity your JUG already displays. When that occurs they will
move your project into the JUG Community space on java.net.

I would recommend that you log in to your project and begin to fill it with the content you'd like to share with your
fellow JUG members.

Best of fortune to you,

Eric Renaud

Oracle becomes Java platform owner !

Over my concerns about Oracle's intentions, I disagree with Dennis's article
Oracle-Sun: an enterprise catastrophe interpretation for three
reasons.
Oracle will be great opening to win the confidence of the people. I am not convinced that the situation would have been better with IBM or Google. Many Oracle's competitors like IBM, SAP, HP have several products based on Java technologies. Oracle may face engthy antitrust prosecution if they close and costly platform.
And Java is now under the GPL. Nothing prevents IBM, Google or any other company to take this code and to change the platform by themselves.
Finally, Oracle already have a JVM with BEA acquisition year ego and did not need to control more Java.
I think Oracle acquisition seem like an attack against competitor Dell or HP. Oracle is buying mainly servers and OS to complete his integration.
(Credit to my colleague Frédéric D.)