Articles by David Linthicum

Web API Expert: The Concept of a Web API

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:30:00 EDT

The Web is slowly changing from a visual resource designed to externalize information to people, to a non-visual resource that's able to facilitate machine-to-machine communications. The catalysts of this change are non-visual communications that are enabled using APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces. These APIs allow you to leverage within your own application both behavior and data that somebody else has built and hosted, as if both the functionality and information were local.

SOA and Services as a Service

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT

While the number of SaaS providers grows, as well as enterprise acceptance, we are really not breaking new ground. In essence, today's SaaS providers offer visual systems, meaning they communicate with a human being. They also provide a single visual interface, and the users have to take both the data and behavior as provided. We could call this an enterprise application that’s not much more than a Web site, or an old-Web technology.

Defining New-Generation Web Services

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:30:00 EDT

We've seen the hype – dynamic applications created by combining remote services that combine both application behavior and data into on-demand business applications that are as easy to change as they are to create. The reality was more evolutionary than revolutionary, but today we are indeed able to build applications using dynamic live data that we neither host nor maintain, information that is delivered through Web services that could be anywhere in the world.

SOA Issues Are People Issues...Not Technology

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EDT

According to the Burton Group, the issues around SOA are not so much about technology and complexity as they are about the people and the processes within an enterprise. Indeed, in a recent article by Jon Brodkin, some of these issues are highlighted. The core issue is that IT thinks tactically, and SOA is strategic. They are not finding a middle ground.

SOA: Preparing for Mashups

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:45:00 EDT

It's important to remember that there is a huge resource being created on the Web these days in terms of both services and content. This includes access to SaaS applications (that are better than their enterprise-bound counterparts), service marketplaces, and even mash-able applications that you can mix and match with other Web 2.0 applications / APIs / services or enterprise applications / services to quickly solve business problems.

Mashups Accelerating and SOA Is Along for the Ride

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that mashups are moving from things that are conceptual and fun, to things that are productive and businesslike. The fact is, developers are leveraging mashups to solve all sorts of business problems these days, and the speed to production and the value of these little applications is compelling.

AJAX, RIA, SOA & Web 2.0 Mashups - Mash What?

Fri, 23 May 2008 14:15:00 EDT

It's what you don't see about the emerging Web that has everyone excited these days. Namely, it's the powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs. APIs are nothing new and have been traditionally cryptic and difficult to use. However, the advent of Web services along with the notion of mashups has changed the way we consider and leverage APIs going forward.

Why Enterprise Architects Continue to Fall Short with SOA

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:00:00 EDT

If you read this column and listen to my podcasts, you know that I call SOA what SOA is - an architectural pattern. In many instances, SOA is a vital component of healthy enterprise architecture. Indeed, I've provided some keynote talks around this very topic at about half-a-dozen enterprise architecture conferences to date. However, generally speaking, the enterprise architects out there still don't 'get' SOA, and they continue to do a poor-to-average job of creating enterprise architectures that...well...support their enterprise.

Web-Oriented Architecture (WOA) Gains Momentum

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:15:00 EDT

As I've been stating for the past five years: if you want to provide real value to your enterprise, SOA should extend out of the firewall and into the Internet. However, this was not universally accepted by the rank-and-file SOA guys. Generally speaking, most viewed SOA as something that occurred exclusively within the firewall, and extending the reach of their SOA to Internet-based resources was taboo.

Do You Have a DSG (Dumb SOA Guy) Issue?

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

I get these about once a week: an e-mail from a Yahoo or Google e-mail account that talks about issues within a large enterprise that are related to building their first instance of SOA. The fact is that most of these e-mails are not around proper approaches or the right enabling technology; they are around the people issues. Specifically, the emerging existence of Dumb SOA Guy(s), or what I call DSGs.

When You Need to Cancel a SOA Project

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST

Many SOA projects are created out of hype, not need. Clearly many enterprises are 'managing by magazine' and are more concerned about doing something cool rather than doing something helpful. You know the difference, and I'm sure there are both types of projects in your organization today. Indeed SOA has become popular, but not in a good way.

Why 'Enterprise Architects' Are Ineffective with SOA

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST

Architectures are like archaeology; in essence, layers upon layers of systems, applications, databases, and connections, typically built or procured to solve a tactical problem. Many corporations talk a good game and brag about the strategic long-term direction of the enterprise architecture that serves the business. The fact is, tactical needs have trumped strategic direction over the years.

Should SOA and Good Architectural Governance Become a Corporate Responsibility?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST

While few will disagree that the inefficiencies of existing enterprise architectures have reached a critical level, many count on 'flying under the radar' of those who look at a company's efficiencies. Let's face it; enterprise architecture is very technical and difficult to understand by the layman. The well-publicized corporate scandals have focused on shady accounting practices and corporate mismanagement while IT has gotten a pass in years past. This will no longer be the case.

"Many SOA Vendors Can't Explain Their Own Product," Claims David Linthicum

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:30:00 EST

Last month I wrote about vendor-driven architectures (VDA), and I had a few vendors ask me to look on the other side of the fence. In essence, to consider how vendors can better address the needs of the customer, considering the new drivers with SOA. Truth be told, I can't believe the unsophisticated approaches many vendors have when selling their product.

Avoid VDA! (Vendor-Driven Architecture)

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:45:00 EST

When looking at technology buying patterns in the world of SOA, there's one common thread. The Global 2000, and many government agencies, are purchasing from their existing vendors, no matter what the needs or requirements. I call these solutions purchasing 'comfort technologies' since they consider the relationship with the vendor more than the value of the technology itself. It's comforting to deal with the same company, people, and platform.

SOA - Loosely Coupled...What?

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:45:00 EDT

With the advent of Web services and SOA, we've been seeking to create architectures and systems that are more loosely coupled. Loosely coupled systems provide many advantages including support for late or dynamically binding to other components while running, and can mediate the difference in the component's structure, security model, protocols, and semantics, thus abstracting volatility.

Where Have All the SOA Standards Gone?

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:15:00 EDT

To mark a new standard in the SOA space, I create a Google Alert and sift through the pile of links returned to get the scope of its maturation. I'm currently tracking over 60 standards, starting with SOAP and XML (XML happened way before Google was cool).

SOA World - Approaching SOA Testing

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:45:00 EDT

So, does testing change with SOA? You bet it does. Unless you're willing to act now, you may find yourself behind the curve as SOA becomes systemic to all that is enterprise architecture, and we add more complexity to get to an agile and reusable state.

The Scaling Crisis Around SOA

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:45:00 EDT

Making solutions scale is nothing new. However, the SOA technology and approaches employed recently are largely untested with higher application and information and service management traffic loads. SOA implementers are happy just to get their solutions up and running, but, in many cases, scalability has simply not been a consideration with SOA, nor is load testing, or other performance fundamentals for that matter. We're seeing the results of this neglect now that SOA problem domains are exceeding the capacity of their architectures and the technology in many instances.

SOA, On-Demand, Becoming a Reality

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:30:00 EDT

If you've kept up with SaaS and SOA you know that Salesforce.com does an on-demand SOA solution. Apex is its on-demand development and deployment platform, including a complete development environment, programming language, database, and now the ability to create, expose, and consume Web Services.

SOA 2 Point Oh No!

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EDT

Here we go again. While the paint is still wet on this new Web 2.0 stuff, many SOA vendors and large analysts firms are calling their market SOA 2.0. It's one of the silliest things I've heard in a long while, and both the analysts and vendors who use this term should be ashamed of themselves.

Building a SOA...

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:45:00 EDT

While the notion of SOA continues to emerge, those who are implementing SOAs today are faced with a variety of challenges, including the complexities of SOA, and the work involved with understanding their existing problem domain and requirements. Those who want to get SOA right the first time quickly understand the benefits of a sound architecture and a good set of SOA design approaches.

Understanding SOA Architectures and Models

Tue, 29 May 2007 18:00:00 EDT

This is the larger issue, as I see it, and is very visible to me working both in the world of SOA and the world of enterprise architecture. So, why are they different worlds? Moreover, what is enterprise architecture, and how does it fit with reference models and reference architectures, as discussed here before?

Real-World AJAX Book Preview: Base Services

Thu, 10 May 2007 13:00:00 EDT

At the lowest level you have base services, including legacy services, new services, and data services.

Real-World AJAX Book Preview: Enterprise AJAX

Wed, 09 May 2007 13:00:00 EDT

What do AJAX and service-oriented-architecture SOA have in common? The answer: Everything. Is AJAX an enterprise technology? The answer: Absolutely.

Understanding SOA Architectures and Models - Part 2

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:15:00 EDT

The SOA reference architecture (RA) provides a bridge between the concepts and vocabulary defined by the SOA Reference model and the implementation of a SOA. The SOA reference architecture models the abstract architectural elements for a SOA independent of the technologies, protocols, and products that are used to implement a SOA. Some sections of the RA will use common abstracted elements derived from several standards.'

Understanding SOA Architectures and Models - Part 1

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:00:00 EDT

I spent a few hours of my weekend attempting to research and define these concepts a bit better, in essence, taking everyone's opinions and normalizing them so they make better sense. What I found were many of the same notions, defined differently, but all attempting to solve the same problems. Seems to be a common theme within the world of SOA, but I digress.

SOA and Data Integration

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:15:00 EDT

First, the history. Data integration is the name the vendors have adopted to replace the ETL (Extract Translate Load), data cleansing, and data warehousing tools of days gone by. These tools actually pre-date the notion of EAI, and were really the first sets of technology designed to deal with data and the use of that data for decision support (business intelligence now).

How Much Will Your SOA Cost?

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:00:00 EDT

I'm consulting now...at the project and strategy levels...and finding that a lot of real work needs to be done to get SOAs up and running. For most organizations, the first step of their SOA project is to figure out how much this SOA will cost. So you can budget appropriately and get the funding.

SOA Project Staffing Plan

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:15:00 EST

A few of my clients are now looking to staff their first inroads into SOA, their first project where something actually happens beyond the investigation. So...how many people are needed on the project? Who are they? What are their roles? Here are some rough guidelines based upon my experience thus far.

Real-World AJAX

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:15:00 EST

As we move to next-generation enterprise architectures using newer notions such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), there's a need for a dynamic Web interface that can layer over services and provide more value to the enterprise. Moreover, the enterprise in general can benefit from the advantages of AJAX; it's just a matter of making enterprise developers as well as the SOA architects aware of AJAX.

Is Your Enterprise Architecture Healthy?

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:45:00 EST

Working directly on SOA projects as an independent I'm exposed to many more organizations than when I was building technology. As such, I see some common patterns or issues emerging. The largest and most disturbing is the fact that there seems to be a huge chasm yawning between the traditional enterprise architecture crowd and those looking at the value of SOA.

Open SOA Collaboration

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST

Last month an alliance of leading vendors announced progress on specifications to define a language-neutral programming model for application development in SOA environments. They call this specification Open SOA Collaboration. In essence, they are proposing a new standard to create and manage IT, making the process of integrating different third-party SOA technologies 'less onerous,' they say. Or, we can call this a standard way of delivering services, making it easier to work and play well together.

Ten Things to Think About When Building the Perfect SOA

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:30:00 EST

Right now the implementation of SOAs seems involve much more hype than actual work. However, there are some patterns beginning to emerge, or, procedures the implementers are doing right to insure success. These patterns are not always obvious, so perhaps this is a good time to learn through the successes of others and do our own homework before we spend millions on moving to an SOA.

WS-BPEL 2.0: Not Backward Compatible?

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 15:00:00 EST

Let's face it, WS-BPEL 1.1 was not a great standard, and left so much out that many end users and vendors found it useless. In response, the vendors put a ton of proprietary extensions in their BPEL 1.1-based products, thus diluting its value to the point of 'Why bother?' This was a dirty little secret in the world of SOA. Considering that BPEL 2.0 is on the horizon, I think it's time we began to talk about what's really there, how you can fix it, and what you need to do to get from point A to point B.

SOA and User Interfaces

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 16:15:00 EDT

What is unique about an SOA is that it's as much of a strategy as a set of technologies, and it's really more of a journey than a destination. Moreover, it's a notion that is dependent upon specific technologies or standards, such as Web services and interface technology, but really requires many different types of technologies and standards for a complete SOA. The types of technologies you employ are dependent upon your requirement.

SOA: Focus Is On Approaches Not Technology

Fri, 26 May 2006 12:00:00 EDT

So what's hot these days in the world of SOA? Governance, registries, orchestration...? Nope. As folks looking to implement SOA seek that first killer project the emphasis is on what to do, not what you use, and that's exactly the right way to think. As SOA becomes more of a reality among the Global 2000, the focus on discipline as a concept will be as important as solutions, perhaps more important than many expect. Let me explain.

Are You SOA New School, or Old?

Fri, 05 May 2006 11:00:00 EDT

It has come to my attention that there are really two kinds of SOA technology vendors out there, old school and new school - each offering very different approaches to solving the SOA problem. I'm not going to mention any particular vendors, but you guys can guess who they are.

Will SOA Reduce the Need for Developers?

Thu, 04 May 2006 15:45:00 EDT

There is a lot of talk about how SOA will significantly lower the need for developers, thus the savings of SOA. This will be accomplished through the promise of reuse that's driving many toward the SOA light. However, I'm not sure we'll see a reduction in development with the advent of SOA, but perhaps rather a redistribution of talent in the longer term. At the end of the day, the reason for leveraging SOA is agility. Reuse and development savings are a secondary benefit, if they happen at all.

Why Services Are Like Craigslist

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 11:30:00 EDT

I caught a review in Fast Company of an interview that Craig Newmark of Craigslist had with ABC's Nightline News. I didn't see the interview myself, but Fast Company did a good job highlighting the more important points, including the fact that Craigslist, which offer free classified ads, is killing the local newspapers.