SPA Conference session: cglib kitchen

One-line description:Scratch your dynamic Java itches amongst friends
 
Session format: Working group (330 mins) [read about the different session types]
 
Abstract:If you're anything like us, you'll have played with java.lang.Proxy, then cglib, maybe Objenisis, Javassist etc, and dreamed of the cute tricks you could play if only you had the time and expertise.

Dream no longer, bring a laptop and your crazy ideas to this session, confess to your peers, and we'll set about them together. We plan to concentrate on technologies that stop short of new languages (AspectJ, Jython etc), but not ignore them if they are appropriate.

This is not a tutorial session, nor a pre-canned workshop. We start by reviewing dynamic Java technologies and the problems they were developed to solve, then we review the groups own problems, and see how the technologies might be bought to bear. These problems will then be adopted by pairs to work on in 90 minute sessions. There should be time for 2 90-minute sprints, so you should be able to work on your problem, and help someone else out.

Relevant technologies that you might find useful include:
java.lang.Proxy
cglib
BCEL
asm
Objenisis
Javassist
bTrace
apt
JVM TI


 
Audience background:Expert Java programmers.
Aspiring expert Java programmers.
Own laptop.
No Fear.
 
Benefits of participating:Walk away with a heavier toolbox, larger armoury, and fewer itches.
 
Materials provided:Pre-downloaded useful jar files.
Links to resources.
 
Process:A very flexible format, depending on the number and character of the attendees. Basically discussion wrapped around 2 x 90 minute coding sessions and tea breaks.
 
Detailed timetable:00:00 A guided discussion about the technologies we know about, where they are useful, and what sort of problems we have that they might fix.
00:45 Catalogue problems and select those for 1st round.
01:00 Pairs or fewer go off to cook.
02:30 Tea break
02:45 Regroup, review progress
03:00 Select 2nd round problems
03:15 Cook some more
04:45 Tea break
05:00 Review and try to come to some conclusions about appropriate technologies.
05:30 Retire to pub
 
Outputs:Wiki entry summarizing conclusions
Code samples
 
History:New for 2009!
 
Presenters
1. Duncan McGregor
Independent
2. Richard Care
Sony BPRL
3.