I had pretty much written off Jython as being dead quite some time ago, but luckily it has had a lot of recent activity and is starting to catch back up with C-Python. By both hiring key JRuby and Jython developers, it looks like Sun is making sure the JVM stays relevant beyond Java and continues to evolve as what in my opinion is the best option for cross-platform applications.

Having a long background in ColdFusion (an Adobe language which compiles down to Java bytecode and runs on the JVM), I’ve seen first hand the benefits of moving a language to the JVM, and I look forward to seeing more progress on both JRuby and Jython on the JVM.

Although the above instructions aren’t terribly explicit, you can find the various Eclipse font settings under Eclipse > Preferences > General > Apperance > Colors and Fonts once you’ve installed the font and made the appropriate changes to your System Preferences.

My Technology Predictions for 2007

In general, I think this oncoming year will be one in which a lot technology built in the last several years becomes less of a burden, and more of a utility. That said, the top five technology trends I see happening in the new year are:

1. Server virtualization is just getting started, and will really make itself known in the coming year. Once we start seeing the quad core CPU architectures as a part of standard infrastructure, it really starts making a lot of sense to start deploying and managing servers and applications as virtual entities rather than specific pieces of hardware. This helps manage the cost and pain of software configuration management, take advantage of being able to process many tasks simultaneously because of hardware support, as well as allows legacy hardware to be retired in favor of applications running on virtual servers.

2. Container based hosting is the new kid on the block, and will also start making it’s presence known in the upcoming year. Commonly labeled as “grid” hosting (which is a technical misnomer if you understand distributed computing), it essentially claims to be an infinitely scalable hosting platform. This technology still seems to be half-baked at the moment, but you could have said the same thing about Linux ten years ago.

3. People who normally wouldn’t use Linux start to explore it and even replace Windows with it permanently. With Vista, Microsoft seems to be moving to a model in which the Windows operating system is a method to police users with DRM and other nonsense rather than provide developers a good platform on which to use hardware which is what Operating Systems are really supposed to be. A lot more consumers who haven’t noticed this happening in the past will stand-up and notice this year.

4. Dynamic languages and frameworks will continue to make leaps in popularity and adoption. Given the current squeeze on technology talent in the US, companies are going to have to learn how to do more with less resources. Moving to dynamic languages and frameworks as well as other simplification such as varying Agile software development practices will enable this to take place. I think the obvious leading candidates here are Ruby on Rails and Django.

5. The enterprise will embrace ways to simplify development by continuing to embrace open source software and Agile development strategies. While there are a lot of cries to the effect of Ruby on Rails replacing Java, I think that’s complete nonsense as Java is a language and Ruby on Rails is a framework. Rapid development languages will certainly make some inroads, particularly where heavy tools have been used to build simple applications, Java is still going to be a major part of the service oriented enterprise for years to come because of the power and tools it provides as well as it’s industry support.

As for myself, I seem to end-up in a lot of old Kerouac haunts for whatever reason.

Subsequently, they have started work on the Django book slated to print next year, and it’s much like the online editing format which the Subversion book is under. I really like the community driven aspect of the book and will probably pick-up a copy once it’s released.

While it seems that Ruby On Rails seems to get most of the buzz these days (especially those silly arguments how the /framework/ Ruby on Rails is going to replace the Java /language/), I think Django is doing a bit better in the commercial space, particularly in publishing. And by commercial I mean established companies, not “hey look how cool and web 2.0 we are” sorts of startups. Not that there is anything wrong with that as I prefer to work in startups actually, I just thought I’d make the distinction.

Coindentially, if grad school is in my future after I finally wrap-up the undergrad degree in Computer Science, an MS in Computer Science (perhaps with my research emphasis being in Distributed Computing) at DePaul is very high on my mental list of options. They used to have an MS in Distributed Computing but it looks like it was recently retired. D’oh!

I’m glad to see that Python is also getting a bit more attention lately despite all of the hype behind Ruby On Rails. I know it’s also used at Google in it’s help system (note the .py in the URL) and also on Google Code among other places.

Providing an opposing view of Ruby On Rails, Greg Luck just wrote a post from OSCON concerning what he calls the “The Ruby Conspiracy“.

Who are those who are benefiting from Ruby on Rails? Answer: O’Reilly Publishing, the authors Bruce Tate and Dave Thomas and a handful of consultants. At last year’s conference, Tim O’Reilly had carefully analyzed his book sales and was desperate to identify the next big thing. Same for the pragmatic programmers and for consulting companies wishing to push the next big thing. C# had been and is a disappointment. Despite a huge push it refuses to move up the Tiobe programming index. I get the feeling that everyone needs a next big thing, and if there is not one, they create it.

After reading the post as well as my own personal opinion about the new web frameworks, I’d have to agree with him. I think things like Ruby on Rails and Django are good general purpose frameworks for developing standard web applications which are self-contained. Once you get into the enterprise space, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to go with “exotic” platforms because of the lack of driver support, integration/monitoring/performance facilities, being able to offer the software as encapsulated services, etc.

If I were starting a new website or web company from scratch would I consider those frameworks? You bet. Would I recommend building a new production capable service or product from scratch using them in an enterprise (although there are certainly some pretty compelling use cases to use them in a few select roles)? Probably not.

And for some reason I can’t get a direct link to the article to work correctly, so I used a TinyURL. In the future if you’d like to get to the article, it’s located at http://wiki.rubyonrails.com/rails/pages/Framework+Performance.