Ups, I’m almost the last one… Ok, here are my voting results: 12 points go to… oh, sorry, not this one… :)

Here are my comments about the course…

What is the added value (if any) of attending this course for you, as a future software systems architect?

Well, I’ve got some new picture of how systems could be made using some other already existing systems, that I can grab something from there and there and make something new, and I need a lot less resources (including money) than making everything myself.

What is the immediate benefit for you (if any) in your current professional situation?

Not much. But as my current job is web development, I now give more attention to Web 2.0 things. No SOA at the moment, but who knows…

I also started using del.icio.us where I can bookmark what I might need at work, and it helps a lot.

How do you see SOA being helpful in your professional environment? Please elaborate what would you suggest if you would become the chief systems architect of your company for a day.

Well, we have some web-based systems that at some points are similar or even identical, so really could avoid that recurrence using SOA and WS.

How do you see SOA in 5 years from now? Please take both the “local” (LT) perspective and global one.

Well, 5 years in IT world is a huge period and I guess no one knows what really is gone happen :) But I think SOA will become one of the main architectures used in system development. I’ve read a couple of topics about Web 3.0, and they all say that Web 3.0 will be based on services and service-based architectures. Locals are also getting into SOA, and I guess in 5 years many huge projects will be based on SOA/WS, and I do hope that all public offices will be able to exchange information using SOA/WS, and this of course will save our time.

What are the pros and cons of “totally online” computing? Think of the Yahoo Pipes – you basically depend totally on the connections.

Well, I receive RSS feeds and don’t need to check all the news portals or blogs, so I save a lot of time. I have a Gmail account, and can read/write my email wherever I am, if I can get online, of course. If I cannot, I can read/write using my mobile phone – it rocks! There is a dictionary, an encyclopedia and almighty Google, where I can find anything (or at least almost everything) I want. I can find exact locations using map services. I have my bookmarks at del.icio.us, my calendar at Google Calendar, and my to-do list at Vitalist. I pay taxes using e-bank, I buy using e-shop. And all this rocks! Because it saves a lot of time, so I have more time to make money, meet my friends or just have a good time :)

The only big problem is security. If someone really wants and has enough power, he can know everything about me: who are my friends, how much time do I spend with them and where (just open your Gmail account), what are my plans and when, what sites do I visit and how often, what did I buy and when. I’m not so important person at the moment, so I think I’m not interesting. But maybe I will be someday? :)

How would you use Web 2.0 in commercial projects?

AJAX rules! :) It makes web systems more user-friendly and more interactive.

How would have you organized this course if given a chance? Please think both from the contents and the form perspective.

At first I thought – oh, my Saturdays are going to be stolen. But they weren’t. It was a good decision to make such lectures on Saturday. I think there should be a little bit more technical talks, also more detailed experience sharing, such as Albertas Šermokas did. That was a very great lecture. Actually, there could be as much guest as it could be – including both, local and global :) This blog was also a good idea. I’d also inform students that there will be an hour break, so they can go for a walk and have a dinner :)

What the lecturers were good at?

Converting an exam to a project :) It’s much more valuable and interesting. Trying to involve students into discussions – sorry, it’s something new to us (I mean discussions during lectures), so we weren’t very active :)

What the lecturers did wrong?

Projects should be given somewhere in the middle of the semester, however they could be ended earlier too – 4 to 6 weeks should be enough. Also there were too much “out of topic” talks. And the dinner, of course :)

I’d also want to thank Giedrius and Adomas for sort of Study 2.0 example. It really was one of the best courses I’ve ever had (at university), and one of the most valuable.

Have a good summer! :)