Columns: Dev How-To and Advice


Dashboard is to envelope, as scorecard is to letter

Although many people use dashboard and scorecard interchangeably, there's a subtle difference.

Thinkpiece: Cross the Trough of Disillusionment

One analyst reports that only 28 percent of outsourcers report achieving the savings they expected.

EDITORIAL: Born-again technologies

We didn’t plan it this way, but this month’s issue is mainly about technologies making a fresh start. After a period of opposition or benign neglect, instant messaging is gaining acceptance in enterprises; agile programming is winning new adherents--following years when enterprises focused on control-intensive initiatives; and visual modeling is getting a second look because the newest tools deliver benefits unmatched by earlier tools, such as automatically producing much of the code for an app.

THINKPIECE: Utility computing throttles app dev's value

As enterprises discover value in utility computing, application developers must shift their focus to service if they are to survive.

DE-CODER: Sarbox gives security a nudge

Business usually recoils at government meddling, but federal laws and regulations, especially the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, may actually be helping information security efforts.

Product Review: Macromedia gives boost to RoboDemo

Macromedia Captivate enables virtually anyone to record on-screen activity to create software demonstrations and interactive simulations in Flash. It allows users to edit content, add media applications, and provide visual screen instructions. It’s based on eHelp’s RoboDemo desktop recording software.

LETTERS: The Readers' Forum

ADT gets letters from readers.

DE-CODER: Architecture Lines up with Business Goals

To keep pace with competitors in the annuities market, Transamerica Life Insurance Company had to find a way to leverage its legacy information systems as it forged ahead with plans to remain a key player in a faster, changing business environment that required more responsive technology.

DE-CODER: The kings of coding

“Tomek” and “Pops” may be unfamiliar names to you, but in the world of coding competitions, they’re as big as rock stars. Now they’re at the top of the stack, according to their peers who participate in online programming contests at TopCoder.com, a mecca for those willing to publicly test their programming chops.

DE-CODER bits & bytes

INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS AND STUFF FOR MANAGERS

EDITORIAL: No easy questions these days

This month’s issue is about making tough choices that can cost plenty if you happen to make the wrong decision.

Product Guide: New Products

Brief news on new products.

DE-CODER: Q&A: IT's role in the supply chain

Kevin O’Marah is vice president of research at AMR Research in Boston, where he directs the analyst firm’s coverage of supply chain technology. In this interview with ADT, he looks at the potential of radio frequency identification (RFID) and how IT should respond to demand-driven supply networks.