JAIN Participation Q&A

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There are three categories of frequently asked questions as can be seen below. Please select the appropriate link below:

General

Participation
 

Technical
 
 
 
 
 

Participation

- What do you consider the responsibilities as an Expert to be?
- What is the expectation of an Expert with reference to conference calls, email communication and face-to-face working meetings?
- Is there be a minimum level of commitment required to participate as an Expert? If so, how would you define the level of commitment?
- Describe your ideal Expert and how does that compare to your Experts of today?
- What does the role of Specification Lead involve?
- How should I form my Expert Group?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What do you consider the responsibilities as an Expert to be?

To help to identify the problems at hand, provide educated input to solving these problems based on personal and organizational experiences.
 

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What is the expectation of an Expert with reference to conference calls, email communication and face-to-face working meetings?

All Experts should be on the working group conference calls, except in mitigating circumstances. They should air any concerns presented by the specification and attempt to include anyone else in there company that can contribute to the agenda set forth by the Specification Lead on the calls. All Experts should also provide input to any problems discussed via email. All revisions of specifications must be reviewed and commented on via email. Experts should make every attempt to attend face to face meetings, and if they are unable to do so, attendance via conference bridge is acceptable. 
 

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Is there be a minimum level of commitment required to participate as an Expert? If so, how would you define the level of commitment?

Yes, 75% email contribution to reviews of specs, 75% conference call contribution on problems encountered, attendance to face to face meetings wherever possible.
 

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Describe your ideal Expert and how does that compare to your Experts of today?

The idea Expert is a blend of the relevant protocol expert and a Java programmer. Such qualities can be rare in any one Expert, and it is therefore acceptable to have these skills balanced across the Expert Group. It is essential that you have at least one 'real' protocol expert that knows the protocol thoroughly. Experts involved in JAIN today have an excellent balance of protocol expertise and Java expertise, and this is a continually growing trend.
 

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What does the role of Specification Lead involve?

Please refer to the JCP website in the first instance to start to familiarize yourself with what's involved. The JCP 2.0 manual details the development and maintenance of a Java specification and is fundamental to the role of a Specification Lead. Within the JAIN Community there are a number of responsibilities and expectations that should be noted. These include...
  - It is expected that the three main deliverables, i.e. the specification, the RI (Reference Implementation) and the TCK (Technology Compatibility Kit) are completed and achieve Final Release within a 9 month time frame. 
- Prior to assuming the role of Specification Lead, all prospective JAIN Specification Leads must agree in advance to making their RI & TCK available for free for use in the Certification Program.
  - It is necessary for a Specification Lead to attend the JAIN Community meetings where he/she would hold a face-to-face work group meeting with the Expert Group. In our experience this is a very important element contributing to the ongoing development of the majority of JAIN specifications.
  - Regular conference calls need to be held with the Expert Group to assist in the development of the specification as required.
As detailed in the JCP manual, the first step is to submit the JSR to the JCP for review at http:/jcp.org/jsr/proposal/index.jsp. Prior to submission, the Sun JAIN Team will review the draft JSR and help prospective Specification Leads solicit Experts for defining the specification. 
 

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How should I form my Expert Group?

While the composition of the Expert Group is largely at the discretion of the Specification Lead, the Java Community Process strongly urges diversity and varied industry representation.  Some of the specific guidelines offered in the Spec Lead's Guide (available from http://jcp.org) include:
- The Expert Group should be large enough and diverse enough to ensure wide adoption of the resulting Specification.
- The Expert Group should be large enough to ensure reasonable industry representation and diversity of opinion.
- Before inviting multiple experts from any given member you should consider the diversity and industry representation of your Expert Group.
 

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