SCJD submitted - where next?

[Ben Ritchie]

Hi folks - and moderators, hopefully this isn't in the wrong place

I've just submitted the SCJD project (yay!) with the exam on Monday (boo!) and I'm wondering where to go next. I'm a Java developer by trade, longer term looking to move to an Architect role. My background is J2ME and J2SE, I don't know J2EE well (apart from JMS, which I know inside out). The options seem to be

SCEA - the obvious choice, except it sounds like the exam is a bit out of date and a new one may be released soon. I'll need to do it sooner or later, but maybe worth doing something else first while I wait for the new version?

ICED - I don't know too much about this one, but it looks like it might be good background for SCEA and I'd like to know a bit more about WAS. It's hard though

SCBCD - I don't know anything about EJBs, so this might be good background for SCEA? The book is supposed to be good too

IBM MQ certification - an outsider, but I work with it as part of my job and it's supposed to be in demand.

anything else? Your thoughts very welcome!

Ben.

[Ko Ko Naing]

It depends on ur future career life. If you have plan to land your career in J2EE, then SCWCD->SCBCD->ICED->SCEA might be alright... But as far as I saw in your experience, you got background in J2ME. Then why don't u go for SCMAD?

It totally depends on you, which path your future is in...

Just my 2 cents...

[Ben Ritchie]

I thought about SCMAD - however, my employer isn't a big believer in J2ME (the J2ME project I was working on has been cancelled!). I'd like to do SCMAD at some point (I like J2ME!) but it isn't going to help me at work, so I'm looking towards J2EE.

Is SCWCD worth doing before SCBCD? I don't know much about either technology.

Thanks,

Ben.

[Ulrich Heeger]

Hi Ben,

Is SCWCD worth doing before SCBCD? I don't know much about either technology.

I'm at the same point like you.
I finished my assignment, will have my essay on monday and since I'm so used to work on a certification, I'm sure I will miss something .
I want also to continue with either SCBCD or SCWCD.
I have no experience concerning J2EE, but I had a short look to some J2EE books. The general structure of these starts with EJB to go on with Servlets and JSP.
But I have the impression that most of the guys here in this forum firstly makes SCWCD before SCBCD. Is that right?

Greetings
Ulrich

[Ben Ritchie]

I have decided to get SCBCD 1.3 now, probably SCWCD 1.4 too. I don't know enough about J2EE, and this will help. ICED sounds really hard, looking at the requirements it sounds like you need to understand SCBCD and SCWCD (plus some more stuff) just to pass one of the three exams (484 - J2EE enterprise connectivity) Plus there are great books for the Sun exams, IBM you seem to be on your own for 484 (good book for 287 though).

So the plan is SC{B,W}CD, ICED then the new SCEA when (if!) it is out. Wish me luck!

[Philippe Maquet]

Hi Ben,

I have decided to get SCBCD 1.3 now,

As, about SCBCD, you wrote above: "The book is supposed to be good too", I guess you were talking about Head First EJB. I confirm: it's excellent, and you'll enjoy studying with it for sure.

, probably SCWCD 1.4 too

Head First SCWCD should be released very soon now!

Regards,

Phil.

[Ben Ritchie]

Hi Phil - yes, I did mean HF EJB. I like Kathy & Bert's SCJP/SCJD book (although Max's SCJD book is pretty damn good too), HF EJB arrived last night and looks really good. I would have done SCWCD first, but Amazon still can't tell me when the book is going to reach me so it's EJBs for me now

After that, I could try Head First Moviemaking! Is that the latest Sun Cert...?
[ July 14, 2004: Message edited by: Ben Ritchie ]

[Philippe Maquet]