Tip for my future self: Java 7 and Maven on OS X

I am finally upgrading to Java 7 on my Mac box and I've been hit by MNG-4226. Maven was still using the Java 6 installation, as described in this Stack Overflow post.

Solution, create file /etc/mavenrc with JAVA_HOME=`/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.7`.

Google Cloud Storage support in Derquinse Bocas

Starting with the just released 1.1.0 version of Derquinse Bocas, a new experimental back-end based on Google Cloud Storage is included. In this first version, the XML API 2.0 is used and only service account authentication is supported.

Besides, version 1.1.0 also includes a revision of the API, incorporating bucket support (in order to group entries) and simplifying entry creation methods. This will be described in a future post.

Announcing Conquiris

After a few months from the first release,  I'd like to announce the succesor to lucis: Conquiris. Conquiris is a set of libraries to help developing applications based on Apache Lucene. It is not a search server, as Solr fills that role really well. It is based on Java SE 6 and Lucene 3.6.1

Why the delay? Well, I was waiting to have some documentation in place to make the announcement, but it was taking so long that I have just gone for it.

So, what are the available resources to get in touch with Conquiris?:

• The project Home Page, where the documentation will be hosted.
• The Google Code Project Page, where you can get the source code and post issues.
• The Conquiris Google+ Page, for announcements.
• The API documentation, hosted on GitHub Pages.
• The Google Group for general discussion.

As with other projects, continuous integration is kindly provided by CloudBees DEV@cloud. The Jenkins instance is at https://derquinse.ci.cloudbees.com.

Lucis upgraded to Lucene 3.6.1

Just a quick note to announce that Lucis has been upgraded to Lucene 3.6.1. In the process, both Lucis and Derquinsej are now deployed to Maven Central using Sonatype OSS Repository Hosting Service, as legacy sync methods are being phased out.

Bocas now built on DEV@cloud by CloudBees

I've set up continuous integration for the Derquinse Bocas using a Jenkins instance kindly provided by CloudBees under its FOSS Program.

Everything has been very easy to set up and has worked perfectly.  You can find the provided instance at https://derquinse.ci.cloudbees.com/.

I'd like to thank CloudBees for providing this service to the Free and Open Source Software community.

"Big Memory" support and new Resources for Derquinse Bocas

Java brought automatic memory management to the mainstream. However, managing the heap is a non-trival task that can require a great amount of effort from the garbage collector. This effort grows with the heap size and may lead to long collection pauses that hurt your system's throughput and response times.

In Bocas, when using a memory-backed repository or a cache, most of the memory consumption comes from the stored values, which are opaque byte streams. If we could get those values out of the Java heap we could use that precious managed space for more value-adding objects.

Enter "big memory" support: starting with version 1.0.4, Bocas supports the use of direct buffers as the backing storage of both memory-backed repositories and caches, using off-heap memory to store the repository values. As the memory-backed repositories are used mainly for testing purposes, this feature is most useful in caches.

This support allows for better utilization of the Java heap, reducing the load for the Java garbage collector. However, take your off-heap caches into account when sizing the heap and planning the memory distribution of your machines.

I would also like to announce new resources for the project:

• A new Google+ Page, used for announcements.
• More documentation is being added to the Project Web Site.
• The General Discussion Google Group.

As a side note, version 1.0.5 has just been released and is already in Maven Central.

A small update on the Gist.GitHub Gadget

The Gadget to embed GitHub Gists in Google Properties, has just received some small updates:

• It is now hosted on a git repository.
• It has a new URL.
• Now uses HTTPS by default.

You can find more information in its home page.