Meet Kumar Srinivasan, Sun Microsystems Staff Engineer -- Software

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Bio: I've been with Sun for the past 15 years, and there's never been a dull moment. I first worked with Strategic Customers, moving their applications from Mainframes to Client-Server computing, and then transferred to SunSoft ISV Engineering, where I worked onsite with IBM-Lotus, to make Lotus Notes Server (Domino) the best performing server on Solaris (SPARC/x86).

After various stints in Networking Products, I joined the Java Technology Group to work on Solaris-Java. Later I moved onto the Java Deployment Group, where I researched various ideas, and productized some of them (JSR 200 and Pack 200). Recently I moved to the HotSpot Runtime group where I have been working to improve and enhance the HotSpot Runtime.

java.sun.com: What project are you currently working on?

Srinivasan: Currently we have commenced the finishing stages of Java SE 6, and I am working to improve its stability and add minor enhancements to the Hotspot VM. You can look at the Java SE 6 snapshot at the JDK 6 Project.

JSC: What's the next big technology revolution?

Srinivasan: RFID! (Radio Frequency ID) which will be a pervasive technology in a plethora of applications such as baggage tracking, inventory control, managing household items and even managing, tracking, and assisting people. The technology is in its infancy and it has a way to go before it's applied to everyday life.

JSC: What would you tell a student or an engineer new to Java technology to study?

Srinivasan: A good understanding of the VM and the internals of the JDK, will help one to write better Java programs.

JSC: What do you see as the most important API in Java technology five years from now?

Srinivasan: Unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball.

JSC: What is your favorite Java technology book?

Srinivasan: Effective Java, by Josh Bloch.

JSC: What is the Java class that you couldn't live without.?

Srinivasan: java.util.* and specifically Collections, which I find so extremely useful.

JSC: If you could work on a dream project, what would it be?

Srinivasan: RFID and Java technology.

JSC: Last movie you saw?

Srinivasan: Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith, nirvana for Star Wars fans.

JSC: Last book you read?

Srinivasan: Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown. The plot is full of twists and turns.