Here are my thoughts about the course.

I have read the short summary of this course in the faculty (when picking up the subject to participate during this spring session) and I really liked it! I thought it would be great to know something new – and I didn’t miss. That’s why I’m here

What is the added value of attending this course for you?

First of all, I had a great time during the classes. It was really not the problem to wake up at 8 AM on Saturday and spend the most part of the day in the lecture because I knew it is going to be interesting. Secondly, I must mention experience. Giedrius and Adomas shared their experience about interesting projects, we could discuss it. It was interesting to listen to those lecturers no matter what they were talking about :) But the main value of this course is … that I have never heard about SOA before! Yes, it’s true :) So it was a perfect time to get feet wet, like Adomas says. Finally, I have had a chance not only to hear about SOA, but also to participate in the project which we gladly made.

What is the immediate benefit for you in your current professional situation?

Nowadays it is a must to know about SOA (I mean for IT people). It is widely used “thing” and why it couldn’t be adopted in my job? So attending these lectures widely spread my view and now I’m able to think differently. That’s why nowadays I’m using SOA not only in my job, but also in my free time (i.e. I’m converting created web pages to web services)

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.

As I have mentioned before, I’m trying to adopt it in my job. I work in a company that creates a software (basically accounting) and we have various projects. And I could say that this course helped me to suggest the part of architecture in one of our projects: we will use SOA :) Sometimes SOA doesn’t fit, but knowing SOA is an alternative way to create architecture.

About being the chief systems architect… I definitely would try to use SOA. But sometimes a “try” isn’t enough. You have to know the most part of architecture styles in order to combine them. You have to know pros and cons. And only then it is time to choose. It’s hard to say what I would suggest. But I repeat: SOA is the way.

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

It’s interesting question. Of course, it will spread. How far? Hard to say. Perspectives in LT are not so proud as they could be. But this course have struck the spark :) The global perspective is really better. No doubts, SOA will expand.

What are the pros and cons of “totally online” computing?The main thing – it greatly saves time. The other thing – there are so much done via web services that you only have to look for, not to create the needed one. But this is the same – it saves time. And sometimes – money.

The biggest disadvantage I see here is security. Also I could mention the speed (arguable) and the cost.

How would you use Web 2.0 in a commercial projects? Web 2.0 is, in short: social computing + data mash-ups + rich interfaces.

I see it the way Jonathan showed us: combine some great things together (Youtube, Flickr and so on) and present a valuable and informative mash-up via rich interface. But, of course, it depends on the project.

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

You guys did a great job. And this is the way for us to learn, not to teach you. But if I were you, I would include more practical things in the course (creating simple web services – doing some practical one-two-week tasks). Also I would greatly try to involve students to discussions (you also did that). But it is not easy to do because sometimes we need to be enthused, and sometimes we need a kick to the ass :)

But I must say, that this course was very interesting and informative. I liked the way you look to students: they are your friends, not the enemies you have to kill them during exam. I liked the discussions. Especially I liked those unrehearsed classes when Giedrius talked about the “purpose of life”. I think, this is the way to go: try to force student to think himself by not telling the whole sentence/mind whatever.

The other good part of the course is that we had guests. This was very pleasurable especially knowing that these people are not ordinary. I really thank you for this and for those people who made very interesting appearance.

One more thing that impressed me a lot was our lecturer Adomas. I’m really rapt! Fly from France to Lithuania almost every week for only one lesson (on Saturday) – it’s amazing. I really appreciate it.

Despite the fact that we were not told all the rules of the game in the beginning of the course, I could easily say that this was the best course I have ever attended in Vilnius University. Thanks for our lecturers Giedrius Zlatkus and Adomas Svirskas!

Antanas Vipartas