Jul 9

I think it’s fair to say that I have worked in a few places during my time in IT. The same issues, problems, discussions seem to pop up all the time. One of my biggest annoyances is that the moment a dependency is added into a development project, it’s cast in concrete. Getting rid of that bug that’s been fixed in a newer version of a Jar always has to be balanced against the risk that something is going to break. Your program may still compile, but what if some strange behaviour has been introduced under the covers? And when you’re on a time-limited project (aren’t they all), no justification seems to be enough to move forward.

That problem seems to be compounded with JVMs. In theory, the vast majority of Java programs will run on a newer JVM. An upgrade may give you newer features (annotations anyone?), a performance increase and nicer APIs. But that’s not the only reason to upgrade! You may not necessarily need or use any of those thing, but newer dependent libraries in your project might. How many times have you sighed as that great library you wanted to use that would save you days needed a better spec’ed JVM? Is it worth the effort or is this just a fact of life?

What are the human factors in getting that upgrade approved? Should upgrades be factored into maintenance on a project as a necessary thing? If approved, how do you manage the risks and prove that your code will run as before - particularly if as with most places, no automated unit tests are in place.

We are going to be covering some of these issues at the Dublin JUG tomorrow night. Anyone interested in coming down and having their 2 cents on the subject should drop by at the Forum Bar on Dame St at 7:30.

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Jul 2

I finally went for lessons last weekend at Dollymount Beach in Dublin. Winds were around 15-20 knots, onshore, sun was shining. Perfect conditions. It was unreal! You just don’t appreciate wind until you get out on one of these things. The kites themselves are huge. We were flying 11m ones, and the force you get being pulled by these things is awesome! After two days of lessons, I even managed to stand up and go in the direction I was after :)

I would definitely recommend lessons to anyone who intends to get out there. It’s a difficult thing to master on your own, and you need to make sure you know how to do it safely. Safety is the name of the game. It great fun, and you’ll get more out of it someone lays the groundwork for you. Spending a few hundred on lessons may seem like a lot, but it’s cheaper than buying all the gear (which is pretty expensive) and then deciding it’s not for you. Lessons also allow you to become a member of the Intl. Kiteboarding Organization, which gives you access to insurance – just in case you need to get rescued by helicopter or something ;)

The technology is only quite new and the gear changes quite substantially from year to year. If you are going to do it, you need a 5 line kite with a quick release & chicken loop – features that are only 3 years old. These things allow you to release your kite in such a way that it loses all power and doesn’t fly away. I have heard horror stories of what can happen with kites, people getting dragged onto stuff etc. This sort of thing is far more likely to happen if you’re using old kites that you can’t de-power in case of an emergency. If you are getting lessons in dodgier parts of the world (the Caribbean comes to mind) DO NOT go out there unless you are sure that the gear is safe. Read up on it first.

If you like it, but are looking for something a bit cheaper, mountain boarding could be the way to go. You get pulled along the beach on a skateboard with large wheels, getting dragged by a power kite. I also did that one on the weekend. It’s great for when the wind is off-shore, and no water means it’s not quite as cold.

I’m definitely going to continue with it. It’s great fun, and a water sport that you can actually do in Ireland without traveling to the other side of the country. My plan for summer is worked out.

Anyone looking for lessons in Dublin, should definitely give the guys at Pure Magic a call. Great instructors, super clued-in and friendly.

See more progress on: Go Kite Surfing
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