Software Development Predictions for 2008

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

David V. Corbin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:28:05 GMT

Basically in agreement, except I think the UX push will REALLY be a 2009 activity.

Software Development Predictions for 2008

Noticias externas — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:55:57 GMT

Happy New Year! Not too long ago, I was asked for my predictions for the IT-Technology in 2008... You

Software Development Predictions for 2008

Test — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:54:56 GMT

Happy New Year! Not too long ago, I was asked for my predictions for the IT-Technology in 2008... You

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Arne Claassen — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:16:38 GMT

Can we expect #2 to go hand in hand with #3? I'm currently doing Silverlight 1.1 development and it's virtually untestable.

I'm not expecting that I can fully test the UI, but since libraries for Silverlight cannot be included in client side code, I can't even run the business logic of my silverlight applications through normal test harnesses. I can fake it by copying the files into a regular .NET library and judiciously weed out offending "using" statements, but it's a rather fragile approach.

thanks,

arne

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

John Chapman — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:19:26 GMT

Wow, Brad, if these turn out to be true then you're a god. While all of these items sound awesome I would say the possibility of all of these things coming true would be around 0.01%.

I just hope the new year brings things towards your goals. There is way too much stubbornness out there to achieve these goals. But progress is certainly worth something!

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Nazar Rizvi — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:44:14 GMT

I think it would take another full year for silverlight to reach its potential. So maybe 2009.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Yanesh Tyagi — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:28:49 GMT

I agree with you.

Are companion applications practical in the enterprise?

WiredPrairie — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:54:07 GMT

Brad Abrams provided a few predictions for IT-Technology in 2008. I started posting a comment, but it was getting a bit long. So, here are my comments with some snippets from Brad's post. #1) User Experience Reaches the Enterprise In...

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

John — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:05:27 GMT

RE: #1 - User Experience Reaches the Enterprise

Of course we'll get some really cool enterprise apps that deliver improved business results. However, I'm afraid those will be few and far between. A lot of todays enterprise apps are gray and boring, and still suck at their actual task. Now imagine what happens when the same undertalented programmers invest time and effort in UX. We'll have apps that suck even worse, but sure look pretty doing it.

Predictions for 2008

J.D. Meier's Blog — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:40:16 GMT

Here's a quick rundown of my take on key trends. Trends are different from fads since they're longer-lasting

Predictions for 2008

Noticias externas — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:28:12 GMT

Here's a quick rundown of my take on key trends. Trends are different from fads since they're

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

James Saull — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:38:03 GMT

Testable frameworks - great. It would be good to see frameworks shipping with a full suite of MS Build tasks too. Too many expect that you are not incorporating the framework into a much larger solution that is being continuously integrated and ultimately tested too. So I think "How do I build, deploy AND tes that?" is a better question.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Alex — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:14:17 GMT

Question on #3:

Is it possible to convert Silverlight application to WPF desktop app?

If yes - how to do that?

Looks like I need to modify the header of the XAML file?

Thank you,

Alex.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

rd — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:07:25 GMT

On #1 - the WPF team missed the boat by not shipping teh data grid control - true to this date!.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

D. Ray Morton — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:39:29 GMT

Brad I think the tear that Microsoft is on right now with WPF/Silverlight is going to seriously hurt it in the Enterprise.

Your expectation of UX in the Enterprise (by way of WPF/e and Silverlight) should be dampened by the frustration that many big firms (speaking from bank experience here) are having with the mixed signals over the fate of Windows Forms.

If you Google the subject of "windows forms dead" or "windows forms vs. WPF" you'll find a full spectrum of comments from Microsoft employees (on their blogs). My favorite is from Michael Wallant (of IE4 and DHTML/Desktop Web Channel fame) who according to Flatlander said the following: "We want to make existing applications look like DOS applications when they run on Longhorn."

Wow, great commitment to the platform, like Windows Forms which Microsoft was touting as the future of Windows development only a few years ago.

So yeah WPF is not going to be embraced any time soon in the Enterprise space. If UX (another silly attempt to own the vernacular of software development) does make its way in to the Enterprise, it will do so with existing technology, which is not nearly as hard as Microsoft wants everyone to believe.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Leo McCavana — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:45:14 GMT

The importance of software security issues is something that must not be overlooked for a number of reasons:

1) The growing number of attacks at the application level - many of which impact upon health, financial and a variety of other personal information

2) The growing importance attached to legal and regulatory compliance, and industry best practice initiatives that are beginning to impact software development. For instance, the impact of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard - a body which by mid-2008, will have ability to deny a company the ability to process credit card payments if they have inadequate software secure processes (in addition to 8 other requirements).

In my opinion, consumers and users of applications really couldn't care less about the underlying technology made available to them as long as the interfaces are functional, usable and dare I say it - fashionable. Security is something that is now beginning to impact people's pockets - more lately retail customers, who realize that a pleasant user experience also needs to include an assurance that their information is secure.

While it's great to talk about 'RIAs', 'AJAX' and countless other technologies that enrich the customer experience and positively impact the bottom line, none of any of these buzzwords will really matter if an application (and its data) is flawed from a security point of view.

We only have to look at the TJ Max case to see that the tide will have to turn in favor of more secure software, when organizations are now being made liable for security breaches.

Although it can't be totally accomplished in 2008, I am optimistic that the following will happen eventually:

1) Security will become an integral part of software architectures.

2) Programmers will learn how to program securely; a change from their current functional orientation. In fact, I've even read that some programing jobs within the DoD will (in the future) require proof that a person can program securely. I'm talking here mainly about the SANS/GIAC Secure Software Programmer Certifications (http://www.sans.org/gssp/). Training and certification requirements of course will need to be backed up by a committed effort to training.

Just a few thoughts .....

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Steve — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:03:59 GMT

Silverlight is getting too much hype right now - you need to deliver the goods.

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Bill Stepanov — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:28:58 GMT

SilverLame is just C#'s applets, but crappier, taking longer to load and full of bugs.

I don't even like Java applets. Why should we try C# applets?

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Jim — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:14:03 GMT

Happy new year!

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Brian — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:04:54 GMT

Enterprise development requires that applications pay themselves off within a few years and that they have at least a 5 year life-span.

Newer web technologies do not yet offer a significant improvement in productivity to replace existing JavaScript/HTML applications. This is for serious development efforts for financial firms and other companies with security, stability, SOX, and total cost of ownership requirements.

Please provide a multi-year roadmap for the existing technologies since we do not want to implement something which is stranded in a dead technology.

User Experience in the Enterprise: Lawson's flash ship manufacturing and distribution application

Noticias externas — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:11:54 GMT

Well, we are not even out of January yet and there is at least a hint of one of my 2008 prediction coming

User Experience in the Enterprise: Lawson's flash ship manufacturing and distribution application

Programming — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:37:24 GMT

Well, we are not even out of January yet and there is at least a hint of one of my 2008 prediction coming

re: Software Development Predictions for 2008

Walter.Kennedy — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:33:26 GMT

The idea that "testability" will be a major proof astounds me. What ever happened to the idea that application software would be proven BEFORE it was released? If I choose to "adapt" OOTB software than the results are on me. I should, however, have some assurance that the software will work, the way it is supposed to, out of the box, is an assumption I want to be able to make.