To get the most out of this book

1. A minimal knowledge of the Java technology is needed to follow this book
2. Some basic experience on performance investigation is nice to have
3. Some knowledge of distributed systems, although not mandatory, can help you to understand some parts
4. A computer where you can develop and run a Java application is highly encouraged even if not mandatory. A setup example is a machine with Linux or Windows, 1 GB (recommended 2 GB) of memory, a dual core CPU and at least 1 GB of available disk space.
5. Being able to use a console would greatly help