SCJD FAQ....................

[Mark Spritzler]

I have started putting together an FAQ for the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam.
The purpose of this FAQ is to help in the administrative and understanding the requirements parts.
I am trying to avoid adding any FAQs that are specific to the assignment, like how to implement lock/unlock. Because one of the best values of this certification is the amount of Java that you learn from it, and if we just gave the answers out, you would lose that gift.
As this is a work in progress, you can post questions you think I should add, those that are wrong in my questions so far, good links to add, and any other general comments you might have.
Also the order of the questions is in order of when I thought them up, there is no special order. Do you think there should be?
OH! and Satya, you need to start posting here if you are starting your SCJD.
Mark
[ May 09, 2002: Message edited by: Mark Spritzler ]

[Mark Spritzler]

Here it is:
Developer Certification FAQ version 1.0
READ THIS. It is more than just a question.

Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process 9
The exam assessors aren’t thinking like my-algorithm-is-bigger-than-yours
code mavericks. They aren’t looking for the next great breakthrough in
record-locking. They aren’t even looking for new, creative implementations.
They are looking for development that says, “I’m a thoughtful programmer. I
care about maintainability. Readability is very important to me. I want everyone
to understand what’s going on with the least amount of effort. I write careful,
correct code. My code might not be the snappiest, and it might even incur an
extra few bytes in order to make something less complex, but my logic is simple,
my code and my design are clear and implement the specification perfectly, I
didn’t reinvent the wheel anywhere, and gosh—wouldn’t you just love to have
me on your team?” If your project submission says all that about you, you’re
in great shape.

quoted from Sun Certified Programmer & Developer for Java 2: Study Guide (Exam 310-035), Third Edition
by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
McGraw Hill, Paperback, 3rd Bk&CD edition, Published December 2002, 711 pages, ISBN 0072226846
For more great goodies from this book you will have to buy it. It makes a great companion book to
Java 1.4 and the Sun Certified Developer Exam and the other books on the SCJD. See question #1
1. How do I start, are there books I should read?
There are a number of certification books out
there that cover the SCJD. While they cover the exam, they cannot explicitly write your
assignment, therefore they must come up with ways to teach you RMI or Swing so that
you can use it to complete your assignment. Having one of these books should suffice
in that goal. so having them all I feel is more a waste of time.
They are:
Java 1.4 and the Sun Certified Developer Exam by Mehran Habibi, Jeremy Patterson, Terry Camerlengo.
Sun Certified Programmer & Developer for Java 2: Study Guide (Exam 310-035), Third Edition

Complete Java Certification Study Guide by RHE.
Java 2 Certification Virtual Trainer by RHE.
Java 2 Certification All-in-One Exam Guide By William Stanek.
Java 2 Certification Training Guide by Jamie Jaworski.
NEW VERSION, coming out June 24th, 2002 Java 2 Certification Training Guide by Jamie Jaworski.

You can find reviews to these books at Bunkhouse, Amazon, and other book websites

2. How do I contact Sun Education?
e-mail: [e-mail].
phone: [phone](USA)
I found this contact page.
I believe it has all the phone numbers for all the countries to contact SunEd.

3. How do I sign up for the Assignment?
You need to call Sun Education. See question #2 for contact information

4. How do I download the Assignment?
You need to go to the Galton website, and there is a link to download the assignment.

5. Where can I find link's to SUN's Tutorial for RMI?
RMI Tutorial

6. Where can I find link's to SUN's Tutorial for SWING?
Swing Tutorial

7. Why can't I upload my assignment?
Everyone gets this error. The first day you try to upload your assignment, you will
get an error saying that you don't have permission to upload the assignment.
Simply contact SUN-ED via email at [e-mail]. . By the next day you will
be able to upload your assignment.

8. Sun says it takes 4-6 weeks to grade my assignment, it has been over 6 weeks.
What should I do?

Up until about a month ago there was a problem with the Essay exam not being uploaded to Sun.
Sun has worked with Prometrics to solve this problem, and has been getting grades out very
quickly. If you do have this problem, start by sending an e-mail to [e-mail]
stating that you completed the essay exam on your date, and that you think that the testing
site did not upload your answers.

9. How should I name my submission jar file?
The Galton site has these directions in the upload screen, but here is a quote from that page
---------------------------------------------
The name of your submission archive file MUST be derived from your Testing ID,
as shown above. Your Testing ID is your 9-digit Social Security Number (U.S. only),
or it might be another alphanumeric combination, e.g. sp1234567 (any country).
Your archive filename MUST BE scjda-AAAAAAAAA.ZZZ, where AAAAAAAAA is your Testing ID,
and ZZZ is the appropriate filename extension for your archive type (zip, tar, or jar).

If you have prepared your archive, please press the 'Continue' button.
-------------------------------------------------

10. How do I find out why I lost points?
You don't.

Sun does not provide you any specific detail as to the reasons for point grading.
They do break down the scoring by sections like
General Considerations (58 points)
GUI (24 points)
User Documentation (20 points)
Server (53 points)

11. Why are there add and delete methods in the data class when we don't need it?
Originally the assignment had an added requirement of creating a conversion program to
convert a text file into a data file like db.db. In order to do this you would have needed
these methods in the Data class.

12. I don't have access to a UNIX box, do I have to test it on UNIX?
In the Instructions.html document that came with your assignment it states.
-------------------------------------------------
A README.txt file. You must create a single text file (plain ASCII format; word processor formats are unacceptable) called README.txt that describes to the examiner the following information in exactly the order listed:
* The exact version of JDK you used, including the platform you worked on.
-------------------------------------------------
This could mean that they take into consideration what platform you used and probably try it on that platform.
Many posts have occured about this, and we haven't found any cases where there was a problem
of not having access to a UNIX box.

13. What fields should I include in the GUI's search functionality?
In the instructions.html. It is a little unclear as to the minimum fields necessary to search.

The user should be able to select the origin and destination of flights, and the display should update to show only flights that satisfy those criteria. The user must be able to describe enter the string value "any" for the origin, destination, or both, so as to implement a wildcard-like feature.

Is one statement, which makes you need at least origin and destination a must.

Then it also states

For example, the following argument string would select all records describing flights by the SpeedyAir carrier that originate in San Francisco.

"Carrier='SpeedyAir',Origin='SFO'"

In this example Carrier is also there. Here is where the confusion comes in. In the first statement carrier is not included, but here it is.

My take is to also include carrier.

14. How do I implement the Model-View-Controller pattern for the GUI?
Here is a MVC Pattern Page
Here is the JTable Tutorial at Sun.
Both will show you examples of how to implement the MVC Pattern.
15. How long do I have to complete the assignment?
You have an unlimited time to complete the assignment. The date on your voucher for the assignment has no meaning. If you buy your voucher for the Essay portion of the SCJD, then you will have one year from the date of the Essay Voucher to take the Essay exam. The Essay portion voucher is not related to the assignment. So please don't ever think that you have a year to complete your assignment, because that is untrue.
16. What version of the SDK should I use 1.3 or 1.4?
Taking from a SUN response on this exact question.

Hello Stephane,
I received your inquiry from my customer service team and discussed it with one
of my Java Subject Matter Experts who helped design the certification exam.

She stated we view a production version as any version that was downloadable
directly from java.sun.com, as long as it wasn't an "Early Access" and/or BETA
release, or one of the older "developer releases" (which was an alternate
version of the JDK, also available from java.sun.com, but we don't do that any
longer).

This version (1.4.0-b92) should be fine. The '-b92' refers to a particular
build, so as long as you are using what was a full release (FCS) then there will
be no problem. Currently there is both a 1.4.0 and 1.4.1 available as production
versions, both of which are acceptable for the assignment.

The real key is to remember how you obtained the J2SDK, to ensure that it wasn't
a pre-release/early access/beta version that you downloaded. The risk with a
beta version is that something you compile and run on a beta version might work,
and then fail to work on a production version that we use to test it on.

Hope this is helpful.

Best regards,

Steve Moore
Senior Certification Program Manager
Worldwide Certifications
Sun Services

Mark
[ January 13, 2003: Message edited by: Mark Spritzler ]

[Ta Ri Ki Sun]

Hi guys, theres no mention of design patterns, and i'm told design choices are fairly critical, i've been working with java for a while and have a fair understanding of good design practices, and have used a few patterns, but i'm not sure i know enough to do well on this assignment
is Bruce Eckel's "Thinking in Patterns with Java" a good place to make sure i'm well enough prepared before i sign up for the assignment ?

[Mark Spritzler]

Hi Taariq,
You don't need to be "make sure i'm well enough prepared before i sign up for the assignment ?"
Actually the best way to do this certification is as a learning process, so once you become a SCJP, you are as ready as you need to be to start the SCJD.
There is no time limit to complete the assignment. OOOH, I can't beleive I forgot that question on my FAQ. I will add it now.
Mark

[Ta Ri Ki Sun]

thanks much Mark, I'll sign up monday morning then.
i passed scjp about 6 weeks ago but was a little intimidated by some of the areas and didn't want to sign up just yet
thanks again

[Mark Spritzler]

Just moving this back up the chain.
Mark

[Sam Stackly]

Hi Mark and thank you for this SCJD FAQ ,
How about a good tutorial for dealing with multithread and lock and unlock ?
Thanks Again

[Mark Spritzler]

Moving to the top
Mark

[Detlev Beutner]

Hello,
I would like to see question (better: answer) 13 "corrected", for the following reason:
You state that

For example, the following argument string would select all records describing flights by the SpeedyAir carrier that originate in San Francisco.
"Carrier='SpeedyAir',Origin='SFO'"

indicates to take carrier as a field on the GUI. But if you read carefully, it just says how flexible the DB-method should be implemented. It has nothing to do with the GUI. Just take care that adding this (or other) field(s) to the GUI is easy; as far as you have implemented the DB-method as required, you only have to take care about your generality on the controller.
Hope it helps
Detlev

[John Smith]

Mark Posted:
This could mean that they [Sun, -- edited by me] take into consideration what platform you used and probably try it on that platform.

Not sure about this. I recently took a J2EE course with the instructor from Sun, and he told us that they don't have a single Windows machine at the entire company. Why would they, considering they long have fought Microsoft on the product front and in the courts?
Eugene.

[Steven Wong]

Hi all,
From what I understand in the FAQ, the SCJD is more of an assignment which we do and pass it up to Sun for marking.
Am I right? Apart from doing the assignment questions, are there any other criterias? Like do I still need to go
and take some online exam questions?
Clement
SCJP2

[Jim Bedenbaugh]

Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:
Bringing this back to the top.
Mark

Mark (or anyone else, for that matter) -
I've finished everything for the application (coded and tested), but now I have three questions (well, three bullet points with questions. . .)
1) What's the best way to package your classes? I have three under suncertify - db, client and server.
2) What's the best way to set up the jar file? Should I jar the classes and put them in a jar?
Is it expected the examiner will want the class files to be jarred and execute from them?
If so, do you require the user to extract the jarred classes from the submission jar in order to execute? (I don't have a lot of experience in this area - would appreciate some ideas).
3) What seems the best way to implement using java.rmi.server.codebase? Do we have to implement this?
I really would appreciate some help. Thanks.

[Mark Spritzler]

3. I had no codebase, as all the necessary classes where in the jar files.
I had two jars. 1 for client, and 2 for server. I then put those jaras and all the Javadoc files and others into my one big submission jar.
Do a google search from the bottom of this page and you can also find some previous posts on the subject.
Mark

[Mark Spritzler]

Bringing this back to the top
Mark

[Thomas Fly]

Here's my 2 cents worth

[Ashik Uzzaman]

Great Job Mark.

[Petros Petrou]

I am about to start my preparation for the SCJD exam.
However, there is one thing I would like to clarify for the essay part. I understand that there are going to be 5 questions related to the previously submitted programming assignment.
My questions is:
Is it reasonable to assume that the questions require the examinee to :
1) list some of the major choices he must take during the implementation.
2) list some of the main advantages and disadvantages of each of his choices.
3) to briefly justify his choices in terms of the comparison of design and implementation objectives with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
What about the other 2 questions?
Is there anything else I should be prepared for?
Any feedback from people who have already passed the exam would be most appreciated?
Many Thanks,
Petros Petrou

[Vikas Sood]

hi Mark,
Great work,keep it up,This is going to be of great help to begainers who are planning to shift from SCJP to SCJD
VikasSood

[Mag Hoehme]

Hi Mark -
great!
The FAQ should be stored in some place, and there should be a link to it on EVERY page!

[Vikas Sood]

hi Mark,
I would like to add something over here that is ,if possible can u also add links to major threads like this one on top of the home page for Developer certification.I think it will greatly help all those SCJP's thinking of getting SCJD but not sure of there being really ready for the same.
Thanks once again for the good work u are carrying out at the ranch.
VikasSood

[Mark Spritzler]

Moving to the top
Mark

[Matt Ghiold]

Mark,
This would probably be a very good thing to have as a sticky note on top of the forum.
-Matt

[Mark Spritzler]

Wow what a great FAQ. Mark you did a great job.
Mark

[Matt Ghiold]

Indeed you did Mark...

[Bert Bates]

Howdy SCJD Campers!
We really, really, appreciate Mark's positive words, but, we don't recommend that you buy our book JUST for the developer portion! This is really a programmer certification book, with a bonus section on the developer exam. So unless you're also planning to take the programmer's exam, you'll be paying for a lot of pages that you won't use.
However, we feel the information in this section is valuable and not covered in other books; so we are working to make as much of the developer portion available online, as we can for those who are JUST interested in the developer's section.
We are working out how we can post portions of the developer's section, and we will let Mark know when this is worked out.
Bottom line, if you are already an SCJP don't buy this book JUST for the SCJD portion. We'll make the information available to you.
However, if you win the lottery, we would like you to buy one for every member of your family and with Valentine's day coming up, it makes a lovely gift for that special someone still studying for the SCJP. And when we do post developer exam material from the book if you like it give us a nice review on Amazon, and we'll call it even.
Cheers, Kathy and Bert

[Burk Hufnagel]

Kathy and Bert,
Wow! You guys are great, not only writing this stuff for us but making it available online! I'd heard good things about the SCJD portions of the book and have been debating whether to buy it since I passed my SCJP a year and a half ago.
This makes it an easy decision... unless I decide to upgrade my SCJP from 1.2 to 1.4 ---> Drat! Maybe it isn't such an easy choice.
Well, in any case, thank you Very Very Much and my hat's off to the two of you! YeeHa!

[Burk Hufnagel]

Hmm... no news yet? I guess I'm just impatient.

[Arjan Broer]

Lets get this on at the top again.

[Vikas Sood]

Hi Mark,
I am back again ,got a break,thought will start by bringing it to top again
Vikas Sood

[Burk Hufnagel]

Bumping to the top.. and while I'm here, how about moving the info to a real link. I know it can be done as I helped get one set up for the SCEA forum.

[Mark Spritzler]

I would love to have it hooked up, but I am not a web developer, so I don't know how to get it set up.
I think it would be better if someone could get it into an HTML page exactly like the SCJP FAQ, then we can ask the Sheriffs to post a link in this forum.
Thanks
Mark