Columns: Dev How-To and Advice


Can EJB be fixed?

The lack of widespread use and the long learning curve for EJBs has prompted Sun and its partners in the JCP to work on simplifying the EJB model in its next iteration (Version 3.0) in an effort to make the technology more mainstream.

Guest Column: Six Sigma's not for everyone

IT units should look hard at the costs of extending the manufacturing process to software development operations.

Product Review: XML in the vortex: A review of VorteXML Designer V3

VorteXML Designer V3 is a capable tool with solid functionality, but it is missing the polish and some features that would make it truly excellent.

Take your pick: Business processes or Bangalore

As technical jobs move offshore, developers should seek out those projects most closely bound to business processes.

Book Review: A Practical Guide to Enterprise Architecture

Most enterprise-level project failures are not the result of choosing the wrong language, not having the right development tools or even having lousy programmers on the development team. The problem is that the architecture is not adequate to support the applications.

A review of SpectrumSCM 2.0 and StateCoder

Mike Gunderloy reviews SpectrumSCM 2.0 and StateCoder

Product Briefs

A look at software tools and technologies on the market.

Software architects: Working on a building

Some people, including author Thomas Mowbray, are seeking to formalize the calling of the software architect. The age of the software architect may be at hand.

A review of RMTrack 2.0 and Cape Clear SOA Editor 4.8

Mike Gunderloy reviews RMTrack 2.0 and Cape Clear SOA Editor 4.8

Will BI projects go offshore?

It is still unclear whether or not BI projects can be sent to offshore labs. Any effort requires execution and teamwork to have a chance at success.

SOAPtest bubbles up

With its ability to automatically generate relevant testing scenarios, SOAPtest is the perfect counterpart for developing enterprise-class Web service apps.

It's not that crazy to worry about app usability: A review of

Author Eric Schaffer writes that making usability an integral part of your development process is a four-phase process.

Covering your assets

Legal and corporate governance issues demand that IT development groups implement rigid processes and emphasize software integrity.

Sarbanes-Oxley hovers over corporate America

Does the government crackdown on corporate malfeasance -- and the corporate governance statutes passed to halt the practice -- mean that IT must create expensive new systems to ensure management plays by the rules?

Product Briefs

A look at software tools and technologies on the market.

Managing XML libraries

It's a stretch to say that XML is a leap forward in managing text on par with say moveable type, but the adoption of a lingua franca for markup is a significant milestone. All it needs to fulfill the promise of making the Web the next leap in the evolution of libraries is an indexing system as effective for XML as the Roman catalogs were for parchment scrolls and codices (precursors to modern-day books).

Too much, too soon?

The very early unveiling of Longhorn and its related tools is forcing organizations to evaluate key technologies that are still three or more years away. Is it worth the time and effort?

Books in Brief: Agility is for managers, too

According to David Anderson, author of "Agile Management for Software Engineering," it's not that software engineers aren't working hard enough. It's that the software engineering management techniques we are using are so poor.

Editorial: ADT Innovator Awards, Take 10

Editor-in-Chief Mike Bucken notes some highlights of ADT's 10th annual Innovator Awards issue.

.NET controls set to go

NetAdvantage 2004 Volume 1 is a best-of-breed suite of proven presentation layer .NET, ASP.NET and COM controls from a solid company where developer input strongly influences new product development.