How to stay updated with ever changing world of Java

I was wondering about the best ways to keep up with the new emerging Java technologies. How do you guys do it?. If I see on the internet, there's lots of things to be learnt. By the time I am finished with one, several new technologies, API, tools. Any advice is most welcome.

Regs
Thomas

I think the big thing is to enjoy what you do, and embrace the change. See the changes as progress, and try and incorporate the progress and success of emerging technology into your work.

The pace of change in technology is what makes this work exciting. Embrace it.

-Cameron McKenzie

Your answer was something on the attitude side. Is there a solution for keeping myself updated to new technology in the quickest and easiest way possible. What to learn, where to use, look out for updates, what is outdated, what are the latest trends.eg: Spring framework is likely to give EJB a whack or AJAX is more advanced to JavaScript. So i should rather spend time reading a Ajax book than JavaScript. Which Technology, Design pattern to use when?. Where am i heading, investing my time and efforts in Java technology?. What if it becomes outdated like Forte soon?.

Reg
Thomas

Spend time on the forums helping people out and that will help you to stay abreast.

I agree with Lamont that time spent in forums is time well spent. It gives you an idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of various APIs, libraries or frameworks that compete with each other.

I also read the news on cafeaulait.org and java.net regularly.

Yup, I will try that. What's the approach if anybody is put in a new technology. My approach is google/use forums of the new technology and try to get a sample working code and build on it. That way I don't have the full knowledge/power of the technology and can't ascertain whether my design is reasonable. What's people approach when put in a new technology with insufficient time.

Regards
Jigo

What's people approach when put in a new technology with insufficient time.

The "insufficient time" part indicates that it is not possible. There is no substitute for experience with a technology, and that doesn't come over night.

Originally posted by Ulf Dittmer:

The "insufficient time" part indicates that it is not possible. There is no substitute for experience with a technology, and that doesn't come over night.

Oh, brother - have you got that right

I was going to go along with the help in forums.

A Master is a Master of the Basics - catching the insufficient time thing shows you have been on some large projects.

I have a pile of books, right now I am trying to plow through Java Script The Definitive Guide - you get into a mental state of saturation, the thought arena will only absorb new information at a steady rate, but

There is no substitute for experience with a technology

In Java land, there are just so many things happening in a short time that it's simply impossible to keep up in-depth knowledge of everything. I read websites like java.sun.com, java.net etc. and listen to podcasts - JavaPosse is a really good one. If something comes along in those news sources that sounds interesting I take a deeper look at it. I don't have the time to keep up with everything - I pick subjects that are relevant to what I'm doing at the moment in my job.

Another great way to keep up with what's happening is to get in touch with local Java user groups and to visit conferences. I've been at JavaPolis in December, where some of the famous Java gurus from Sun held talks and where you can meet a lot of people doing a lot of different things with Java.