Michael Lang

I sent you an email, let me know if you still have it available.

Passed from St. Louis, MO, USA

SCJP, SCJD, SCEA and now SCDJWS(Beta)!
IBM Certified Solution Developer - XML and Related Technologies

I cleared the XML exam yesterday. This forum is an excellent resource for certification preparation.
Since I was very busy with my project recently, I didn't prepared as much as I'd have liked to.
I only read Essencial XML Quick Reference and studied the IBM's sample test. I felt they are very good material. Cannot comment on other staff, since I don't have a chance to read them.
The actual test has more conceptual type of questions than I expected. I believe you definitely need to read more to answer them.
Good luck all!
Michael Lang
Sun Certified Programmer
Sun Certified Developer
Sun Certified Enterprise Architect
IBM Certified Developer - XML and Related Technologies
[ April 01, 2003: Message edited by: Michael Lang ]

Just found out I passed the part II & III.
Thanks JavaRanch for providing me lots of useful infomation. I believe this forum and the one in Yahoo have answered all the questions concerning the exam, maybe a little bit too much.
One more thing I'd like to point out is that we need to provide a little more info in the diagrams than the samples showing in "Sun Certified Enterprose Architect for J2EE technology Study Guide".
Good luck!
[ May 20, 2002: Message edited by: Michael Lang ]

Just Passed Part I exam this morning, I just want to say my thanks to this web site.
This site helped me a lot. You should be able to pass the exam just by reading the message and notes posted on this website. I learned a lot while preparing for this exam. If your goal is just to pass the exam, then it is a pretty easy task. It is really fun when you do have the experience before taking the exam.
As to the new book "Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for J2EE Technology Study Guide"
by Mark Cade, Simon Roberts, I read it twice before I took the exam, I feel the book is too simplified, but a good guide. You should be able to answer all the questions related to the Internationalization and UML by just reading this book. For other topics, you have to read more materials.
Good luck to you all!

Ambiguity provides us flexibility. There are no single so-called correct answer. Different people interpret the instruction differently. Don't second guess yourself, or the assignment will drag you on forever.
Seems you prefer to let the user select the operating mode at the startup and the program stay in that mode once it has started up.
You need ask yourself, what is the difference between this 2 mode from the client point of view. In local mode, the client need the specify where is the data file. In network mode, the client need to know where the server is. Then just pass either info to your application upon startup.
Good luck!

The implementation of the Lock and unlock method is one the most popular topic in this discussion board. Partly because there are a lot of ways to implement them. To tell the truth, I don't know what is the best design. Just like you, I doubt my design too, I still do. If your design works for you, it should be OK.
As to your question:
1. I used a Collection.
2. I just store record number.
3. I didn't try to identify clients.
4. I didn't implement timeout.
I saw other passed SCJDs who did exactly the opposite.
Good luck!

In fact, we spent about the same amount of time
I guess I will try SCEA next year. With some more experience, the certification hopefully won't be too hard. As a matter of fact, I passed my SCJP in 1999. Compared to that exam, SCJD is much easier.

I didn't implement runnable myself. I let RMI take care of that. I am really weak about the thread part in Java. I don't want confuse myself further : )

You understand the local mode right. Just make sure you don't have your server running when you start you application in local mode.
Good luck!

The maximum number of points you could have received is 155; the minimum to pass is 124. General Considerations(maximum = 58): 56 Documentation(maximum = 20): 20 GUI(maximum = 24): 20 Server(maximum = 53): 51
This website helps me a lot, especially those who passed before me. I didn't post any questions myself, since ALL my questions already got answered here! Thanks a lot.
A few points I'd like share with your guyes:
1) Read your instruction word by word. Do exactly what it told you to do.
2)The follow up exam is no brainer, if you did the assignment yourself.
3)You don't have to fit any design patterns to this project. I am not familiar with those design pattern myself. But I do have years software development experience.
4)There are many ways to do the same thing. Don't worry if your design is different from those who passed. Anyway, it is your work.
I did all my work in Windsows NT with Visual Age. I didn't bother to test it in Unix or other platform.
It took me 2 week (60 hours)to finish the assignment, 1 week to document it (very tedious).
The tip for those who just want to pass it fast: don't over-do it. You don't have to get 155/155 to pass : ) Remember to keep it simple, this assignment really didn't ask you to do much. Keep this in mind, the finished assignment is far from a real world application. I knew my GUI design sucks, that's why I got 4 points deducted.