On the subject of Software Factories ...

re: On the subject of Software Factories ...

Kyle Huntley — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:39:46 GMT

Hey Don, your statement on the value proposition of factories is pretty good, but I'm not so sure about the "build a specific type of application multiple times" clause. I think that is true if the same team has to build the factory as you are unlikely to get a net gain building a factory for one app. However, if someone else builds the factory and gives it to you all the benefits you mention can apply for a single app.

re: On the subject of Software Factories ...

donsmith — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:22:54 GMT

Hey Kyle. Yea, I see what you mean. To be more clear an organization (what I meant by "team") may build a bunch of instances of the app and even though a single dev in the org may only build a single one, the factory is still a wise investment for the org.

What might not be wise is for a single dev (independent of his org) to invest in the use of a factory to build a single instance because it will be hard to get a return on the investment of learning to use the factory, making the neccessary modifications (optional), and working it into the dev and app lifecycle processes.

And no, I didn't state that last bit for your benefit - you already knew it :)

Thanks man

p&p Software Factories, GAT/GAX and Visual Studio 2010

ajoyk - patterns and practices, VSTS, Process — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:33:52 GMT

My p&p colleague Don Smith posted a blog with our high level plans for Software Factories and GAT/GAX

Update on SCSF, WCSF, and Software Factories

Blaine Wastell - patterns & practices client architecture guidance — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:21:17 GMT

A number of customers have asked about our plans for the Web Client Software Factory and the Smart Client

re: On the subject of Software Factories ...

farrukhnizami — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:44:09 GMT

Hi Don. Great to hear that p&p is still committed and focused to software factories. Since we have been building custom software factories on GAT/GAX ourselves and customizing/enhancing p&p software factories for more than 2 years, I am unable to understand a few things from your post.

1. Are you planning to release new versions of GAT/GAX with enhancements to the existing features or simply enhancing the existing software factories?

2. If you are going to adopt Blueprints what will be the future of existing software factories and GAT/GAX? This is an important question for us as we have been working extensively on both these technologies for quite some time now. We have even participated in PDC 2008. For details you can visit the following links:

http://www.infosysblogs.com/microsoft/software_factory/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/architecture/blueprints.aspx

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/MichaelLehman/Infosys-Blueprints-Screencast/

Software Factories Redux

GarethJ's WebLog — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:09:28 GMT

Don has a great post on where the p&p team are going with Software Factories and GAT/GAX . No doubt

re: On the subject of Software Factories ...

Andre Furtado — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:24:51 GMT

Don, does that mean that if one is interested in using GAT/GAX, the best would be to wait for VS2010?

All New DSL's will be 2nd Class Citizens until at least 2018

Jonathan Crossland's Talkware — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:24:15 GMT

All New DSL's will be 2nd Class Citizens until at least 2018