The SquizLog

Teaching J2SE Security

I hate it when you're reduced to, at best, paraphrasing what's on the slide because you haven't a clue what the topic is about!

Maybe I exaggerate a touch. I did at least know that I was supposed to be teaching the class about Java Security last Friday in Canberra. And I remembered something vague about a "sandbox" years ago when I was first learning Java. But J2SE Security is hardly a subject in which I have needed to develop an intimate knowledge for my day to day J2EE development work.

My plan had been to prepare by doing some research beforehand but my head cold put paid to that idea. So the experience ended up feeling like attempting to tread water when one hasn't quite mastered the art of staying afloat yet. Unsurprisingly I made it to the end of the slides in rather less than the recommended hour; there was only so much embelleshing I could do with such a thin understanding.

Oh well, at least I resolved to become better informed prior to my next opportunity.

Little did I know how soon that chance would arrive! Tomorrow morning I'll again be standing in front of a class, this time with the benefit of at least some preparation. Now I have a passing aquaintance with, or even a knowledge of such things as message digests, asymmetric encryption, the Java Security Architecture, Java security policy files, digital signatures and digital certificates.

So hopefully I'll feel less of a fraud this time. As I've said before, teaching certainly motivates the instructor to learn!

Posted to Software Development, Teaching by Keith Pitty