Archives


Open source upsets the apple cart

As Enterprise Linux becomes the poster child for open source and IT budgets remain tight, the question of where real value lies will remain. Customers may not necessarily demand open source, but neither will they pay for functionality that’s a commodity.

Java environment focuses on up-front modeling

Compuware’s OptimalJ employs the so-called Model Driven Architecture (MDA) to generate working J2EE code from various descriptions.

Windows Server 2003 ships

Microsoft hopes release will field a stellar platform for integrating applications.

Good days for Goodnight and SAS

SAS’ unique business model makes it an oddity in the industry, there is no denying that its peculiar approach to making and selling analytical products has served the firm well during its 26 years of existence.

Microsoft resigns from W3C group

Microsoft officials withdraw from group due to a disagreement over the direction of the W3C debate.

Orchestration promise meets reality

Business process flows face mounting roadblocks as standards fights escalate; but emerging tools and business demands could force a resolution.

A sampling of business process flow software vendors

Business process flow software vendors and their wares.

A first look at IBM–Rational

The integration of Rational into IBM appears to be off to a good start. One does not sense the acrimony that followed the Lotus and Tivoli acquisitions for years.

Product Briefs

A look at software tools and technologies on the market.

Is XQuery an omni-tool?

Just as the community is crafting a great diversity of well-specialized XML processing tools, along comes the XQuery omni-tool, which is complex enough that it is probably not very accessible to the weekend handyman, and yet probably not finely tuned enough to displace the box of professional crafting tools.

Dashboards come into view

Dashboards depicting time-series analysis allow managers to spot trends and, in turn, manage operations for ROI. Business intelligence benefits seem limited only by IT’s creativity.

Pepsi Bottling Group has a thirst for rich data

The Pepsi Bottling Group recently deployed a new system that enables its sales force to access route management information, real-time demand forecasting, inventory management, promotional info and authorized products from a handheld device.

Book excerpt: Architectures for integration, extension

Developers look for an edge by integrating and extending systems; a look at the resulting business consequences.

The move to open source

In the last few months, there has been a surge in reports of enterprises adopting Linux. The “free” nature of open-source software may appeal to many firms as one way to reduce costs. Meanwhile, the impression that Linux is more secure than Windows has been fostered by a never-ending set of security patches for the various flavors of Windows. Whether this impression is true or not remains to be seen.

J2EE and .NET servers weigh in

One or the other may hold an advantage here or there, but the divergence between the two prime app server platforms should not be oversold. Some say over time they are becoming more comparable.

Hype or hyper-active? A review of 'Questioning Extreme Programming'

A review of Pete McBreens’s book “Questioning Extreme Programming”

Briefing Book: IBM and BioIT

BioIt is an emerging area that Big Blue is pursuing vigorously.

Briefing Book: Sun vs. Microsoft

Links to a number of articles about the ongoing battle between the two companies.