Venkat Subramaniam
Founder @ Agile Developer, Inc.
Dr. Venkat Subramaniam is an award-winning author, founder of Agile Developer, Inc., creator of agilelearner.com, and an instructional professor at the University of Houston.He has trained and mentored thousands of software developers in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, and is a regularly-invited speaker at several international conferences. Venkat helps his clients effectively apply and succeed with sustainable agile practices on their software projects.
Venkat is a (co)author of multiple technical books, including the 2007 Jolt Productivity award winning book Practices of an Agile Developer. You can find a list of his books at agiledeveloper.com. You can reach him by email at venkats@agiledeveloper.com or on twitter at @venkat_s.
Presentations
Functional Programming with Java8
9:00 AM MDT
With Java supporting lambda expressions, we have nothing to stop us from creating functional style of code for our day to day applications. We are so used to object-oriented programming, but remember the paradigm shift we went through to adapt to that way of programming. It is yet another paradigm shift and most of us wonder how in the world can we write functional style code. Much like how OO was not as much about the syntax as it was about the design, functional programming is about the design, the idioms, and the data structures we would use to program.
In this hands-on workshop, we will learn about functional programming using practical examples, create small apps that will make use of this style of programming, and relate to how it differs from the traditional way were used to and the benefits it offers.
Developing Angular2 Apps
8:30 AM MDT
Angular 2 is a total rewrite when compared to Angular 1.x. If you are new to Angular 2 and interested in learning to develop applications using ES6 (JavaScript), then this presentation is for you.
We will take an example oriented approach to create a fully functional front end that fetches data from the backend, displays it, allows users to edit the data, and sends back to the backend. Along the way we will learn about the different parts that make up Angular 2 applications.
Angular 2 Beyond the Introduction
10:30 AM MDT
In this presentation, we continue beyond the introduction to Angular 2 and look into working with directives and routes.
Learn about these features, how to use them, and how to create your own directives and manage routes.
Reactive Programming in Java
1:00 PM MDT
Reactive Programming in gaining a lot of excitement. Many libraries, tools, and frameworks are beginning to make use of reactive libraries. Besides, applications dealing with big data or high frequency data can benefit from this programming paradigm. Come to this presentation to learn about what reactive programming is, what kind of problems it solves, how it solves them. We will take an example oriented approach to learning the programming model and the abstraction.
Reactive Programming
Nature of Problems
Programming API
The Reactive Programming Abstraction
Examples
Building Reactive Applications
2:45 PM MDT
Reactive Programming is receiving quite a bit of attention and for good reasons. It’s a nice logic next step from functional programming. It takes the concept of function composition and lazy evaluations to the next level. It streamlines handling of many critical issues that are architectural in nature: resilience, scale, responsiveness, and messaging.
In this workshop, we will start with a quick introduction to reactive programming. We will then dive into code examples and learn how to create reactive applications. We’ll learn to implement observables, to deal with errors in a graceful manner, learn both synchronous and asynchronous solutions, hot vs. cold observables, and dealing with backpressures.
Building Reactive Applications
4:30 PM MDT
Reactive Programming is receiving quite a bit of attention and for good reasons. It’s a nice logic next step from functional programming. It takes the concept of function composition and lazy evaluations to the next level. It streamlines handling of many critical issues that are architectural in nature: resilience, scale, responsiveness, and messaging.
In this workshop, we will start with a quick introduction to reactive programming. We will then dive into code examples and learn how to create reactive applications. We’ll learn to implement observables, to deal with errors in a graceful manner, learn both synchronous and asynchronous solutions, hot vs. cold observables, and dealing with backpressures.
Twelve Ways to Make Code Suck Less
8:30 PM MDT
We all have seen our share of bad code and some really good code as well. What are some of the common anti patterns that seem to be recurring over and over in code that sucks? By learning about these code smells and avoiding them, we can greatly help make our code better.
Come to this talk to learn about some common code smell and to share your experiences as well.
Programming with JavaScript - Method to Madness
9:00 AM MDT
JavaScript is a powerful language with many capabilities. Yet, this is one of the most misused, feared, and often poorly utilized languages. In this hands-on workshop, we will demystify JavaScript. We will start with some of the fundamental dos and don'ts of this language, explore its dynamic capabilities, and learn to make use of its powerful prototypal inheritance.
Come prepared with your laptops to crank out some code and work along exercises.
Programming with JavaScript - Method to Madness
11:00 AM MDT
JavaScript is a powerful language with many capabilities. Yet, this is one of the most misused, feared, and often poorly utilized languages. In this hands-on workshop, we will demystify JavaScript. We will start with some of the fundamental dos and don'ts of this language, explore its dynamic capabilities, and learn to make use of its powerful prototypal inheritance.
Come prepared with your laptops to crank out some code and work along exercises.
Automated Testing JavaScript
1:30 PM MDT
JavaScript is one of the most powerful and yet perilous languages. It is arguably the most ubiquitous language, the king of the client side programming the web. The dynamic nature of the language offers many benefits, but the weak typing and lack of tooling can make changes unpredictable, that is, if we're not careful. Automated testing can greatly alleviate the pains and lead to more fruitful development.
In this presentation we will take look at the tools, but also the approach to automate the tests for JavaScript code. We will start with simple cases at first, but quickly dive into dealing with dependencies, and measuring code coverage.
Functional Programming with Java 8
3:15 PM MDT
Java 8 is the most significant change to the language since it's introduction, surpassing changes seen in any of the previous versions. It is not merely syntactical change or addition of a few extra features, it's a paradigm shift. Come to this presentation to learn about the power and capabilities of functional programming using Java 8 and how to benefit from those when building Java applications.
Lambda Expressions
A Look under the hood
Stream
Functional Programming Principles Applied
Function Pipeline
Lazy Evaluations
Parallel Streams
The Power and Perils of Parallel Streams
5:00 PM MDT
Turning a stream into a parallel stream is extremely easy, but is that the prudent thing to do? While flipping that switch is almost effortless there are some significant ramifications. In this presentation we will learn the power of parallel streams but also why, when, and where it makes sense to use parallel streams. Through a series of example we will learn about cases where it makes sense and some there it does not.
Streams
Parallel Streams
Controlling Threads
Deciding Threads
Performance Implications
Recommendations on prudent use
Programming with Vert.x
9:00 AM MDT
Reactive Programming is at the top of new excitements in our field. There is a lot of discussion and theory around this concept, but what does it feel to create applications using these ideas? That's the focus on this talk, and we'll use Vert.x as a vehicle.
Learn about reactive programming, how to create applications, and how Vert.x can make that an enjoyable task.
Putting a Spark in your Applications
10:45 AM MDT
Distributed and parallel computing have been around for a while. The problem is not new, but solutions have generally been complex. Over the years several solutions have come along to ease the pain. Spark is a wonderful programming API and a tool that can ease the pain of creating distributed, high concurrent, performing code.
In this presentation we will take an example oriented approach to creating applications that make use of Spark. We will learn how to create the code to use Spark, how to configure and manage the number of threads, and how to distribute the computations.
Exploring Java 9 Modularization
1:30 PM MDT
If Java 8 was all about how we code, Java 9 is all about how we will build. Modularization will have the biggest impact of any change that happened in Java since its inception. In this presentation we will learn about the need for modularization, how it impacts development, the rules to follow when creating modules, and the effect it has on legacy code.
We will explore creating module, using modules, readability, exports, automatic modules, and unnamed modules.
JShell: The REPL for Java
3:15 PM MDT
JShell, introduced in Java 9, is a great experimentation tool, useful for micro-prototyping, and trying out code snippets. In this presentation we will learn the benefits of the tool, when to use it, and how to put that to real good use during development.
In this example driven presentation we will look at writing snippets, creating functions, defining and redefining variable and methods, creating classes, and configuring the tool to meet your desired level of feedback.
Books
Test-Driving JavaScript Applications: Rapid, Confident, Maintainable Code
by Venkat Subramaniam
Debunk the myth that JavaScript is not easily testable. Whether you use Node.js, Express, MongoDB, jQuery, AngularJS, or directly manipulate the DOM, you can test-drive JavaScript. Learn the craft of writing meaningful, deterministic automated tests with Karma, Mocha, and Chai. Test asynchronous JavaScript, decouple and properly mock out dependencies, measure code coverage, and create lightweight modular designs of both server-side and client-side code. Your investment in writing tests will pay high dividends as you create code that's predictable and cost-effective to change.
Design and code JavaScript applications with automated tests. Writing meaningful tests is a skill that takes learning, some unlearning, and a lot of practice, and with this book, you'll hone that skill. Fire up the editor and get hands-on through practical exercises for effective automated testing and designing maintainable, modular code.
Start by learning when and why to do manual testing vs. automated verification. Focus tests on the important things, like the pre-conditions, the invariants, complex logic, and gnarly edge cases. Then begin to design asynchronous functions using automated tests. Carefully decouple and mock out intricate dependencies such as the DOM, geolocation API, file and database access, and Ajax calls to remote servers.
Step by step, test code that uses Node.js, Express, MongoDB, jQuery, and AngularJS. Know when and how to use tools such as Chai, Istanbul, Karma, Mocha, Protractor, and Sinon. Create tests with minimum effort and run them fast without having to spin up web servers or manually edit HTML pages to run in browsers. Then explore end-to-end testing to ensure all parts are wired and working well together.
Don't just imagine creating testable code, write it.
What You Need:
A computer with a text editor and your favorite browser. The book provides instructions to install the necessary automated testing-related tools.
Pragmatic Scala: Create Expressive, Concise, and Scalable Applications
by Venkat Subramaniam
Our industry is moving toward functional programming, but your object-oriented experience is still valuable. Scala combines the power of OO and functional programming, and Pragmatic Scala shows you how to work effectively with both. Updated to Scala 2.11, with in-depth coverage of new features such as Akka actors, parallel collections, and tail call optimization, this book will show you how to create stellar applications.
This thorough introduction to Scala will get you coding in this powerful language right away. You'll start from the familiar ground of Java and, with easy-to-follow examples, you'll learn how to create highly concise and expressive applications with Scala. You'll find out when and how to mix both imperative and functional style, and how to use parallel collections and Akka actors to create high-performance concurrent applications that effectively use multicore processors.
Scala has evolved since the first edition of this book, and Pragmatic Scala is a significant update. We've revised each chapter, and added three new chapters and six new sections to explore the new features in Scala. You'll learn how to:
Safely manage concurrency with parallel collections and Akka actors
Create expressive readable code with value classes and improved implicit conversions
Create strings from data with no sweat using string interpolation
Create domain-specific languages
* Optimize your recursions with tail call optimization
Whether you're interested in creating concise, robust single-threaded applications or highly expressive, thread-safe concurrent programs, this book has you covered.
What You Need:
The Scala compiler (2.x) and the JDK are required to make use of the concepts and the examples in this book.
Functional Programming in Java: Harnessing the Power Of Java 8 Lambda Expressions
by Venkat Subramaniam
Intermediate level, for programmers fairly familiar with Java, but new to the functional style of programming and lambda expressions.
Get ready to program in a whole new way. Functional Programming in Java will help you quickly get on top of the new, essential Java 8 language features and the functional style that will change and improve your code. This short, targeted book will help you make the paradigm shift from the old imperative way to a less error-prone, more elegant, and concise coding style that's also a breeze to parallelize. You'll explore the syntax and semantics of lambda expressions, method and constructor references, and functional interfaces. You'll design and write applications better using the new standards in Java 8 and the JDK.
Lambda expressions are lightweight, highly concise anonymous methods backed by functional interfaces in Java 8. You can use them to leap forward into a whole new world of programming in Java. With functional programming capabilities, which have been around for decades in other languages, you can now write elegant, concise, less error-prone code using standard Java. This book will guide you though the paradigm change, offer the essential details about the new features, and show you how to transition from your old way of coding to an improved style.
In this book you'll see popular design patterns, such as decorator, builder, and strategy, come to life to solve common design problems, but with little ceremony and effort. With these new capabilities in hand, Functional Programming in Java will help you pick up techniques to implement designs that were beyond easy reach in earlier versions of Java. You'll see how you can reap the benefits of tail call optimization, memoization, and effortless parallelization techniques.
Java 8 will change the way you write applications. If you're eager to take advantage of the new features in the language, this is the book for you.
What you need:
Java 8 with support for lambda expressions and the JDK is required to make use of the concepts and the examples in this book.
Programming Groovy 2: Dynamic Productivity for the Java Developer (Pragmatic Programmers)
by Venkat Subramaniam
Groovy brings you the best of both worlds: a flexible, highly productive, agile, dynamic language that runs on the rich framework of the Java Platform. Groovy preserves the Java semantics and extends the JDK to give you true dynamic language capabilities. Programming Groovy 2 will help you, the experienced Java developer, learn and take advantage of the latest version of this rich dynamic language. You'll go from the basics of Groovy to the latest advances in the language, including options for type checking, tail-call and memoization optimizations, compile time metaprogramming, and fluent interfaces to create DSLs.
You don't have to leave the rich Java Platform to take advantage of Groovy. Groovy preserves Java's semantics and extends the JDK, so programming in Groovy feels like the Java language has been augmented; it's like working with a lighter, more elegant Java. If you're an experienced Java developer who wants to learn how Groovy works, you'll find exactly what you need in this book.
You'll start with the fundamentals of programming in Groovy and how it works with Java, and then you'll explore advanced concepts such as unit testing with mock objects, using Builders, working with databases and XML, and creating DSLs. You'll master Groovy's powerful yet complex run-time and compile-time metaprogramming features.
Much has evolved in the Groovy language since the publication of the first edition of Programming Groovy. Programming Groovy 2 will help you learn and apply Groovy's new features. Creating DSLs is easier now, and Groovy's already-powerful metaprogramming facilities have improved even more. You'll see how to work with closures, including tail call optimization and memoization. The book also covers Groovy's new static compilation feature.
Whether you're learning the basics of the language or interested in getting proficient with the new features, Programming Groovy 2 has you covered.
What You Need
To work on the examples in the book you need Groovy 2.0.5 and Java JDK 5 or higher.
Programming Concurrency on the JVM: Mastering Synchronization, STM, and Actors
by Venkat Subramaniam
More than ever, learning to program concurrency is critical to creating faster, responsive applications. Speedy and affordable multicore hardware is driving the demand for high-performing applications, and you can leverage the Java platform to bring these applications to life.
Concurrency on the Java platform has evolved, from the synchronization model of JDK to software transactional memory (STM) and actor-based concurrency. This book is the first to show you all these concurrency styles so you can compare and choose what works best for your applications. You'll learn the benefits of each of these models, when and how to use them, and what their limitations are.
Through hands-on exercises, you'll learn how to avoid shared mutable state and how to write good, elegant, explicit synchronization-free programs so you can create easy and safe concurrent applications. The techniques you learn in this book will take you from dreading concurrency to mastering and enjoying it. Best of all, you can work with Java or a JVM language of your choice - Clojure, JRuby, Groovy, or Scala - to reap the growing power of multicore hardware.
If you are a Java programmer, you'd need JDK 1.5 or later and the Akka 1.0 library. In addition, if you program in Scala, Clojure, Groovy or JRuby you'd need the latest version of your preferred language. Groovy programmers will also need GPars.
Practices of an Agile Developer: Working in the Real World (Pragmatic Bookshelf)
by Venkat Subramaniam and Andy Hunt
These are the proven, effective agile practices that will make you a better developer. You'll learn pragmatic ways of approaching the development process and your personal coding techniques. You'll learn about your own attitudes, issues with working on a team, and how to best manage your learning, all in an iterative, incremental, agile style. You'll see how to apply each practice, and what benefits you can expect. Bottom line: This book will make you a better developer.
.NET Gotchas
by Venkat Subramaniam
Like most complex tasks, .NET programming is fraught with potential costly, and time-consuming hazards. The millions of Microsoft developers worldwide who create applications for the .NET platform can attest to that. Thankfully there's now a book that shows you how to avoid such costly and time-consuming mistakes. It's called .NET Gotchas.The ultimate guide for efficient, pain-free coding, .NET Gotchas from O'Reilly contains 75 common .NET programming pitfalls--and advice on how to work around them. It will help you steer away from those mistakes that cause application performance problems, or so taint code that it just doesn't work right.The book is organized into nine chapters, each focusing on those features and constructs of the .NET platform that consistently baffle developers. Within each chapter are several "gotchas," with detailed examples, discussions, and guidelines for avoiding them. No doubt about it, when applied, these concise presentations of best practices will help you lead a more productive, stress-free existence.What's more, because code examples are written in both VB.NET and C#, .NET Gotchas is of interest to more than 75 percent of the growing numbers of .NET programmers. So if you're a .NET developer who's mired in the trenches and yearning for a better way, this book is most definitely for you.