New Java group

By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor

Johannesburg, 21 Feb 2007

Richard John Walton, owner of Johnboy Software, has established a new local Java user group (JUG).

"The JUG site is definitely needed in SA because there is no forum or community for the Gauteng Java development community at present," Walton contends. He says most other local user groups are inactive.

The purpose of JUG, says Walton, will be to organise and host presentations, keynote addresses, social meetings and other events to promote and discuss Java and Java-related technologies.

The first JUG event is scheduled for 1 March on the topic of Enterprise Java Beans. Walton also plans a weekly podcast that will include interviews with technology industry leaders, interviews with Java developers and short technical discussions between small groups.

William Mueze, software practice architect at Sun Microsystems, says although JUG still needs to grow, it will help empower developers and ensure they are up to international standard.

"The local Java community is well developed, but the JUG Web site will enable people with skills to help others as well as make the community aware of developments and products," says Mueze.

Walton says he hopes JUG will connect people who are passionate about open-source technology as well as pulling together the Java development community in SA. He says this can only benefit the country as well as the rest of Africa.