Dzone just moved to new servers and changed their DNS yesterday. My local DNS has not updated yet so for me, Dzone is down still. I usually check the font page and upcoming links many times a day. While its been down I have had to look elsewhere. Mostly I have just been at javablogs.com.

Where would you go to read about code if DZone were down?

This post is meaningless without your comments. Please share your links with me in the comments section.

Thanks!

Everyone else has a “Best of 2008″ and I don’ t post as much as I would like, so this is a cheap opportunity for a quick post.

I have two blogs, this one and the one for my open source project at http://architecturerules.org . I used PostRank and the number of reads to determine my top posts.

So here are my best posts from the two:

Most Viewed

Spring: Many applicationContext.xml > One applicationContext.xml

Spring: OpenSessionInViewInterceptor & OpenSessionInViewFilter Examples

Spring: OpenSessionInViewInterceptor vs. OpenSessionInViewFilter

These are my organic traffic posts. Collectively they are responsible for almost 50% of the reads that I get at 72Miles. If you use Spring and/or Hibernate, you should check them out.

Most Commented and Discussed

I used PostRank to rack and stack my posts by comments and discussions around the web.  Here are those results.

Favorite Software Patterns Books

I really enjoy reading books about java and software development. My favorite type of book is the patterns books. Patterns books are great because the chapters are usually short and very focused. So you can read a chapter over lunch, or before you hit the pillow and usually not put the book down in [...]

“Practical API Design: Confessions of a Java Framework Architect” Book Reivew

This is without a doubt a book that you need to put on your bookshelf. This is the first book of its kind and the tips and tricks that it provides is timeless - a key attribute of any pragmatic software development book. I encourage you to flip though this book at your local bookstore or just download Chapter 1.

Open Source Revenue with Dual Licensing

The aim of this post is to explain how open sourcing a proprietary tool under a duel license can be more profitable than a solely proprietary venture. With such a license you could generate more revenue and share your code and software with the world.

Software Development Standards

In short, “Industry Standards > Organization > Team > Personal > No Standards”

Why not an Open Source contribution tax deduction?

Artists may eventually be able to claim giant tax deductions for donating their work. The one thing that we can do from here is to keep an eye on this bill. If it goes into the books, then we have something to start fighting for and it might be time to call your less-than-computer-literate congressman or woman and start pressing them for your fair share.

Greatest Barriers to Open-Source Adoption

CIO.com asked 328 information technology and and business executives and managers if they use open source applications in their organizations. The good news is that 53% answered that they are already using open source tools. They survey also uncovered why the other 47% had not …

My Favorites from 72 Miles

My favorites don’t include some of the above lists and some that didn’t make any list.

Why not an Open Source contribution tax deduction?

Artists may eventually be able to claim giant tax deductions for donating their work. The one thing that we can do from here is to keep an eye on this bill. If it goes into the books, then we have something to start fighting for and it might be time to call your less-than-computer-literate congressman or woman and start pressing them for your fair share.

Favorite Software Patterns Books

I really enjoy reading books about java and software development. My favorite type of book is the patterns books. Patterns books are great because the chapters are usually short and very focused. So you can read a chapter over lunch, or before you hit the pillow and usually not put the book down in [...]

My Favorites from Architecture Rules

Architecture Rules 3.0 Roadmap

First. The big change is the groupId which is finally going to be moved to org.architecturerules for the core project and the maven plugin. I don’t have the domain yet. I have a fund raiser page where I was hoping to get about $30 to secure the domain for 3 years. So far no contributions : \ Maybe if any of your work for a company that uses the project, and the company has donated money in the past, you could ask your boss for a small $30 contribution to this project. Regardless, we’ll get it eventually and the project needs to get off of com.* and the maven plugin needs to be the same groupId.

Wildcard Support

Architecture Rules is proud to announce that it now support wild cards.

Exceptional Metadata

Exceptions are an important part of any programming language, especially Java. Java has two types of Exceptions. No, not checked and unchecked, but rather useful and useless. The utility of the Exception is up to you, the developer.

Squash those Cycles

Two packages are said to be involved in a cyclic dependency when package A depends on package B and package B depends on package A. Learn why you should prevent cycles and when it is ok to use them.

Configuration Method Chaining

We have all seen method chaining, especially in configuration classes. Architecture Rules has a typical configuration class that currently does not support method chaining. We decided to investigate method chaining to determine if it should be introduced into this project or not.

Thanks

Thanks for reading this post. Hopefully you enjoyed this one and many of the others that I listed here. Happy new year.

I really enjoy reading books about java and software development. My favorite type of book is the patterns books. Patterns books are great because the chapters are usually short and very focused. So you can read a chapter over lunch, or before you hit the pillow and usually not put the book down in the middle of a 30 page chapter.

I am in the midst of reading and reviewing Pro Java™ EE Spring Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies Implementing Java EE Patterns with the Spring Framework. Reading this book got me thinking about all of the other patterns books that I have read and really enjoyed. Here are my favorite software patterns books.

Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies

I think this was my first patterns-based book. I got a free copy when I was enrolled in a week long java patterns and architecture class in 2002 or so. I now have two copies on my bookshelf. One for me and one to lend out to friends and colleuges.

Core Patterns starts by introducing the concept of software patterns, then takes a unique approach by describing common J2EE anti patterns and then discussing the refactored solutions. This allows a straight-through reading for those unfamiliar with patterns or use as a reference guide for experienced pattern users.

The Manager Pool: Patterns for Radical Leadership

Of all the patterns books that I have read, I think this book has the most chapters at a whopping 61. Its also my favorite. I think its my favorite because it sort of on the fringe of software development, so I don’t feel like I know as much about management. I also like it because I could relate to most every pattern either as a subordinate or as a manager.

This fun book identifies patterns such as Tribal Language, Leviathan, and Unique Place. The chapters are short and quick to read. This book will help you communicate more effectively, understand your subordinates, and make you a stronger software manager.

Pro Java™ EE Spring Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies Implementing Java EE Patterns with the Spring Framework

I am currently reading this book. The author has a poorly written java web application that uses no model-view-controller. He takes you through the refactoring of the project. He explains a pattern, and then discussues how the Spring MVC implements the pattern. It is common for the next pattern to build on the previous, so this book is a little harder to jump to an arbritrary chapter and start reading, unless ofcourse you know the patterns aready.

This book takes you though the presentation layer, business layer, and integration layer and discusses how Spring uses and implements patterns throughout each layer of the software. A great Spring reference or a great MVC reference. I am glad I got this one for my bookshelf.

Patterns in Java: A Catalog of Reusable Design Patterns Illustrated with UML

This book opens with background on pattern research, including the groundbreaking design patterns. It goes further, with 41 software patterns, all illustrated with UML diagrams and sample Java code. Early patterns, such as Delegation and Proxy, show how classes can work together without relying on inheritance. Next come creational patterns, such as the Factory and Builder patterns and the newer Object Pool pattern.

These pages turn out to be a great resource not only for patterns, but also for Java and UML. If you read this one and enjoy it, there is also a second volume.

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

This book was a little more difficult to read. Its much more academic-oriented, rather than written to be a casual read. It also goes deeper into the pattern than most other books do. I guess that makes it a good reference. This is one of the only patterns books that I have read that delves into the user interface.

The downside with this book, in my opinion, is that its geared towards C++ software development, so as a java developer, I spent more time trying to understand the code examples than I did reading and understand the patterns.

Check out the table of contents.

Software Architecture Design Patterns in Java

Covering 35 patterns, a long introduction to UML, and a web hosting company case study, this book weighs in at almost 500 pages. This one is practially a design pattern encyclopedia, so if you can only have one design pattern book on your shelf make it this one.

This book relys big on examples and has become a fundamental book for newer and older developers alike. After reading this one I think you’ll find yourself using patterns names more often in discussing your software.

Anti-Patterns and Patterns in Software Configuration Management

To end, an anti-patterns book. And to be honest, This one I have not read, but its next on my book list becuase it is on a topic that so few developers are experts in or sometimes even carry a conversation in. This book is coming up on 10 years old

As I understand, most readers of this book can really relate to most every pattern because their organizations are so bad at configuration management. This could give you the leg up to show off you knowledge and help your organization become more successful in the art of software development. At least thats what I hope it can do for me.

UPDATE: I just ordered this from amazon.

Thanks for reading my list. Now I have to ask, have you read any of these? Do you have any comments on them? Have you read any great patterns-based books that you would recommend?