Latest News from Kyle Gabhart

Going Right to the Source

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:52:42 EDT

In-source, out-source, up-source, down-source, crowd-source, cloud-source, source, source, source. At your work and on the street, how many different sources you meet! (Inspiration borrowed from multiple readings of Dr Seuss's The Foot Book to my toddler). It seems everyone these days is looking for a new 'source' for making their business, civic organization, or personal life more ...

Is a Picture Still Worth 1000 Words if You Don't Understand the Language?

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:52:42 EDT

Modeling business processes offers an effective way of capturing end-to-end requirements for a solution. It also clearly communicates the business scenario and corresponding solution in a way that can be understood by both business and technology professionals. This communication does hinge upon consistency in modeling, output format, and even the approach that is ...

Identify & Achieve ROI with Your SOA Training

Tue, 05 May 2009 16:15:00 EDT

For many people, even entire organizations, the approach to education seems to be along the lines of learning facts, figures, details, tools and standards. This results in a shallow understanding of both the business problem and the new Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) strategies available for addressing the business’s needs. The next step is either to scrap the initiative or pour more time and money into patching the solution to bridge the chasm that could have been avoided with a more complete understanding of the domain and the implications and strategies surrounding service orientation.

Owning Hardware is Soooooo 2008

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EDT

As the fallout from the economy takes its toll: staff layoffs, reduced capital expenditures, dwindling revenue, etc., enterprises of all sizes are looking for opportunities to trim back on their fixed costs and move toward business models that are more agile, scaling up AND down with demand. Call it Cloud ...

Ten Steps to Successful Cloud Adoption

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Cloud computing holds tremendous potential for both small and large organizations. Adopting your very own cloud solution may seem daunting, but the maturing of service oriented patterns, practices, methodologies, and tools has brought cloud well within reach. With proper guidance, your organization can evaluate the potential for cloud and pragmatically adopt it without breaking the bank.

Juggling Multiple Data Models with Services

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EDT

Recently, a client approached me with a quandary. When designing XML schemas for Web services, how do you balance the desire to use industry standards such as UBL ( Universal Business Language) or CICA ( Context Inspired Component Architecture) to support data interoperability with the unique needs of particular domains.

Is our SOA learning?

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:17 EST

On a South Carolina campaign stop in January 2000, George Bush asked the immortal question: "Is our children learning?" Then again seven years later, Bush told a group of New York school children: "Childrens do learn." YouTube video of both statements is available here. So I ...

Which Came First, the SOA or the Data Model? - Part 2

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST

In a previous post I blogged about the strong synergy between SOA and MDM. More recently, I explored the subject of service oriented data modeling (part 1 of this post) and how to resolve the inevitable conflicts that arise between your SOA view of data and your enterprise or MDM view of data. In this second article, we explore a second scenario.

Which Came First, the SOA or the Data Model?

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:45:00 EST

Recently I have been engaged in two Master Data Management (MDM) initiatives within the context of a larger Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) adoption plan. In both cases, the client found themselves at an impasse regarding how to resolve conflicts between the master data model and the data model required for one or more SOA artifacts (i.e. business process, service interface, etc.).

Industry Buzzing with Interest Around Cloud Computing

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST

Unless you have been under a rock (hiding from the depressing economic news, no doubt), then you know that the industry is buzzing with interest around Cloud Computing. Due to the extraordinary degree of interest and constant questions regarding Cloud that I have seen from my clients, I thought it ...

Real Value in Cloud Computing

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:45:00 EST

I have officially come full circle from my position last summer regarding the reality of Cloud Clomputing in which I presented a skeptical view of Cloud's potential to actually materialize. It is now quite apparent to me and increasingly to my clients and readers, that Cloud is real and it ...

SOA and The Year of the Ox

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:17 EST

Communities the world round celebrated Chinese New Year yesterday. 2009 is the year of the Ox, and with it comes new insight and possibilities into what the year holds for our world. According to Chinese tradition, the year of the Ox represents "prosperity through fortitude". The Ox symbolizes that success ...

Last minute stocking stuffer

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:17 EST

SOA World Magazine just went live with an excerpt from my book - Service Oriented Architecture: Field Guide for Executives. The excerpt comes from Chapter 3 "SOA Value Proposition". And given that so many companies are having trouble with crafting a business case for SOA, this subject is very timely. If ...

SOA’s not dead yet…it’s getting better

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:17 EST

All across the blogosphere, analysts, experts, and technology enthusiasts are buzzing about the latest claims that SOA is dead. The thunderstorm of controversy was set off by Burton Group analyst, Anne Thomas Manes, who recently blogged an obituary for SOA entitled: SOA is Dead; Long Live Services. As I consider ...

MDM and SOA Alignment

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:52:16 EST

Master Data Management (MDM) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) share common principles. The driving forces that lead organizations to adopt MDM and SOA are quite well aligned, resulting in a rather natural synergy. Consider the following principles: Reusability A primary driver of MDM is to allow applications to share data safely ...

Book Excerpt: Enabling Agile Business with SOA

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

Cost cutting is a common demand that is levied on technology organizations. Consequently, each new paradigm within the industry is pitched by some as a cost-cutting strategy. The trouble is that many enterprises attempt some grand enterprise-wide deployment rather than incrementally growing their SOA over time and incorporating lessons learned along the way.

SOA Governance: Start Small and Build Incrementally

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

If governance were a house, you would be left with the options of either building it from the ground-up or attempting to haul a complete house in on a large truck. While the latter is possible, it is fraught with difficulty. The house does not lend itself well to transport. It may become damaged during the move. It may not fit on your lot or connect smoothly to your utilities, requiring modifications to be made on the spot.

SOA World Product Review — Testing...1...2...3...Testing

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EDT

Few topics evoke more groans and eye rolling from software engineers and Web developers than the dreaded 'TESTING.' Testing falls into the same category as documentation, refactoring code, dusting, and visiting the dentist. Put it off until the last minute, do as little as possible, do it quickly, and move on to something else. I must confess that I have the same visceral reaction to the thought of 'testing' as others do. Consequently, I approached the prospect of reviewing a testing tool with the loathing of visiting the dentist. I was very relieved to discover that Parasoft's SOAtest 5.0 took a lot of the pain, frustration, and busy work out of the testing experience.

WASP: Taking the Sting Out of Web Services Development

Mon, 16 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

In the October issue of Web Services Journal (Vol. 2, issue 10), I wrote an article on how to assemble a free C# .NET development environment by combining Eclipse, the Java 2 platform, Microsoft's .NET SDK, and a C# Eclipse plug-in from Improve Technologies.

The Hype About .NET

Mon, 23 Sep 2002 00:00:00 EDT

You've heard the hype about .NET. You've read a couple of vague articles about dynamic discovery and invocation, service-oriented architecture, and how SOAP and a handful of other XML standards are forever changing the software industry. You want to explore the world of .NET, but are unable or unwilling to fork over a thousand bucks for Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET product. This article is for you.

The Sun Rises on Web Services

Fri, 01 Mar 2002 00:00:00 EST

With Microsoft's .NET marketing campaign in full swing, Sun announced its Sun ONE (Open Net Environment) initiative in October of 2001. While J2EE provides a robust, scalable, and portable enterprise platform, until then it had been sorely lacking in the area of standardized support for Web services. As a part of the Sun ONE initiative, Sun has since released the Java XML Pack, a suite of Java APIs for working with XML. So what exactly is the Java XML Pack? From a Web services perspective, the Java XML Pack facilitates the development, publishing, locating, and invocation of XML services via the Java 2 Platform.

Wireless Web Serviceswith J2ME Part IISOAP or XML-RPC? The answer depends on your needs

Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 EST

Last month in Part I (WSJ Vol. 2 Issue 1) we discussed J2ME and accessing Web services from wireless devices using the XML-RPC protocol. In this article, we will consider SOAP as a vehicle for accessing Web services from wireless devices, comparing and contrast-ing it with XML-RPC. Our sample application will again be a J2ME midlet, however, we will use EnhydraME's kSOAP rather than kXML-RPC to provide the protocol's implementation.

Wireless Web Serviceswith J2MERemote Possibilities

Fri, 11 Jan 2002 00:00:00 EST

What happens when the hype of Web services meets the increasingly popular and ever-changing world of wireless computing? Most likely, confusion and disillusionment. In this two-part article, we'll explore the uncharted waters of wireless Web services. We'll use the J2ME platform for developing our Web service clients and access remote services on the Internet using standardized industry protocols.