Implement a CRUD automation framework that handles insert and simple queries, an easy way to talk to a database without needing to write any database-access code.
Reusing a framework usually is a good idea, but sometimes developing your own code for a specific task is easier. Developing code to convert a Java application into a Windows service turns out to be one of those rare cases.
A Java developer determines where in a real development scenario he would use the two new navigable interfaces in Java SE 6, NavigableSet and NavigableMap, and comes away a bit disappointed.
A monitoring server is critical to any server-side infrastructure, be it an e-commerce or a telecom solution. Learn how to build a DIY (do-it-yourself) monitoring system using an extensible object-oriented framework.