Here's a recent interview I did with Java Champion Kirk Pepperdine, a primary contributor to javaperformancetuning.com which is widely regarded as the premier site for Java performance-tuning information. Kirk has much to say about performance tuning concepts and misconceptions; database and memory problems; the importance of writing simple, "dumb" code; tricks he uses to defuse stress when he's called in by a company to solve a problem; and lots more. Would be great to get your reaction to what he says.