Java Weekly #16: Named Parameters, Java Batch, JavaOne Recordings and more...

The Java world is evolving at a rapid pace and it can be challenging to keep track of it. Fortunately lots of great resources are created every week, explaining new features or looking at existing stuff from a different angle.

I am using the Java Weekly series to collect the most interesting links I found during the last week and present them to you all in one place. I hope you find it useful and that it makes it easier for you to keep up-to-date. If you like to suggest a resource or something I can improve on, please leave me a comment.

Java

Did you ever wish to have named parameters in Java like in other languages?
Well, as we all know, this is not supported in Java. But with the right compiler flags you can read the parameter names via reflection. Adam Bien explains in his post NAMED PARAMETERS IN JAVA 8 how to do it.


Oracle released Java SE 8 Update 25 and Java SE 7 Update 71 and 72 containing several security fixes. If you have not already done it, update your system now!

Java EE

Roberto Cortez wrote a nice article based on one of his JavaOne talks, showing how to use the Java Batch API to calculate metrics for the World of Warcraft auction houses. This involves requesting a lot of data via REST service calls and using the Batch API to process multiple large json files.

JavaOne Videos

As already mentioned in last weeks Java Weekly 15, Oracle recorded the JavaOne talks and will publish them in several batches. The first batch of 5 videos is already available at parleys: JavaOne 2014.

JCP

Do you know where the new Java 9 features come from?
If not, you should read this first part of an interview with Gil Tene, Werner Keil and Richard Warburton. They explain how new features get selected and talk about their personal experience with the Java Community Process.


Several Java EE 8 related JSRs are currently forming their initial expert groups. If you like to contribute to the future of Java EE, have a look at the following articles by Reza Rahman:

• In Calling All JMS Enthusiasts: Join JMS 2.1! he gives an overview about the main goals of JMS 2.1 and explains how to join the expert group or contribute without being an official member.
• He describes the topics that are currently considered for the JAX-RS 2.1 specification in Calling All REST/JAX-RS Enthusiasts: Join JAX-RS 2.1!. 

Microservices

Microservices are one of the most discussed topics of the last months. After the initial hype of a new architectural style, several companies began to use it to develop complex business applications. And the good thing is, they now write blog articles about their experiences with this new approach. So did Tom Livesey. He shares the experience from building a 20+ microservice system at Droplet in his article Lessons learnt working with microservices.

This and that

We all know, Java is awesome :)
But it is not only the language, there are so many awesome tools, frameworks and more. It is hard to keep everything in mind. Andreas Kull curated a massive list of everything that is awesome in Java: Awesome Java.
And I am really proud that my blog is mentioned in the website section. Thank you Andreas!

See you next week!

These were the most interesting resources I found this week. I hope you find them useful and I see you next Monday for the next issue. You can subscribe below to get an email notification for every issue.

If you like to suggest a link for next weeks issue or something I can improve on, please write me a comment.