Are you compatible with Sun? Or: When something goes wrong with SCJD...

[Bernhard Pauler]

Let me tell you the story about the assessment of my programming assignment for the "Sun Certified Developer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition" certification.

About six weeks ago I submitted my application. Four weeks later I received my grade:

Grade: F
Score: 0

I was shocked. What could have gone wrong? I looked at the details and studied the comment of the assessor carefully:

"Comment: This one is an automatic failure, the network client does not run with the command: java -jar runme.jar The application runs but no GUI WIndow is ever created. (The server in alone modes appear to work fine.)"

I thought: This can't be true. Such a simple mistake would have caught my attention immediately. I had tested my application before submission thoroughly. I searched for the backup copy of my submission and tried to reproduce the objected issue. There was no way to do so. A colleague (he is Sun Certified Developer) and the head of development of my company confirmed that my application was working properly.

I must admit that I tested my application only on Windows XP platforms before submission. The only reason I could imagine that my application would behave different was the underlying platform. So I installed my application on Debian Linux. But: no sign of the objected issue.

So, what to do? I wrote an email to [e-mail]. I explained my case, then asked for...

"I would like to get into contact with the assessor or at least get a protocol of his/her test to be able to reproduce the objected issue."

I got response on the same day (good performance):

"Unfortunately, we cannot address your question at this support address.

A copy of your communication has been forewarded to SUN for resolution.
Please look for a response from SUN."

One week passed - no answer from Sun (bad performance). In the meantime I managed to install Solaris 10 (quite a beast). I can now confirm that my application runs on Solaris 10. But who cares?

Could the email have been lost? I forwarded the message to [e-mail]. That was about one week ago. Still no answer. It seems Sun doesn't like me. Sort of incompatability.

This is where my story ends. I hope it was not too boring. If you want to know what will happen next check back in the future. I will keep this thread updated.

Thanks for listening to my story,

Bernhard Pauler
[ June 06, 2005: Message edited by: Bernhard Pauler ]

[Tong Chen]

This question comes up again... Interesting...Anyway, it is the rule set by the Sun. so the Sun Microsystem has the every right to do any explanation. Good luck!

[Bernhard Pauler]

Thank you. I will need that luck. (Still no answer.)

[Vishwa Kumba]

Sorry about the evaluation. Sometimes, SUN makes silly mistakes. They would listen to you if you keep chasing them. I am sure the SCJD ranchers will be interested to know the outcome. Keep us posted.

[Bernhard Pauler]

I will.

[Max Habibi]

Bernhard,

I encourage you to be very, very persistent, and very, very polite.

M

[Ram Mmurthy]

I agree with the previous Post.
Sun is really bad in the certification "follow up" department. I hadn't received the certification kit they mailed out for one of the exams.
I had to send about 7 emails just to ask them to re-send the kit.
The only way to contact them is thru email and there is no phone number.

They need to manage this process better.

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Bernhard,

Just to reitterate what Max said - you will need to be persistent and (as with any questioning of a judges decision anywhere) you will need to remain calm and polite.

Here at JavaRanch we don't often hear of people questioning assessor's decisions. When we do hear about them though, it appears to take quite a while before there is an answer back. I can only assume that this is because it takes some time to check into the questions raised properly. There is also the potential problem of timezones to consider, where emails between you and Sun may be read during the same working day, likewise emails between Sun and the assessor may not be read during the same working day.

Continue to chase Sun about this though. You will eventually get a more detailed response from them.

Good luck.

Regards, Andrew
[ June 10, 2005: Message edited by: Andrew Monkhouse ]

[Bernhard Pauler]

Persistence. Politeness. I will remember. It's hard if you have to wait that long for an answer - any answer like: "We are processing your request ..." :roll: .
Meanwhile I sent a fax to Sun Training U.S. and an email to the local offices of Sun here in Austria. Sun Austria told me that they will try to use their contacts to help me. At least some progress . Thank you for all of your answers.
[ June 11, 2005: Message edited by: Bernhard Pauler ]

[Bernhard Pauler]

It is incredible how Sun abandons (one of) their customers.

After 1 email to [e-mail], 1 email to [e-mail], 1 fax to Sun Training U.S. and numerous emails to the local offices of Sun here in Austria I have still no answer.

I am very, very disappointed.

[Rob Ross]

I just want to add one observation.

Right now, and for the last month, Sun's Java people resources will have all been in heads-down bunker mode getting ready for Java One. It's pretty much like this every year about this time.

Java One will be over on July 1, but then most of these same people have the following week off.

So, it's a bit of bad timing to be sure, but I would really be patient and try to understand that the people who would be in charge of dealing with your issue probably aren't going to be able to look at it until at least the week of July 11th.

[Bernhard Pauler]

Well, they must have gotten the first email in May so I don't know if I would accept such an excuse. But in the end I can't do anything but wait. :roll:

[Bernhard Pauler]

Happy Ending!

I have not received any message from Sun but I visited the "Sun CertManager Data Access Service" today and was really happy when I noticed that my assignment was reviewed again and that I am now a certified developer.

Sun did not send me an answer but they managed to review my assignment again within one month which is remarkable for such a big company.

Thanks, Sun.
Thanks, folks.

[Nicholas Cheung]

That's great!

So, what's next?

Nick

[Bernhard Pauler]

Next target: Sun Certified Business Component Developer (SCBCD)