David Linthicum

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 ... (more)

We've all experienced the hype: "We're a SOA tool, and we're here to help!" However, most SOA vendors out there don't understand the value of SOA, or even how to approach SOA. They focus on the tactical and not the strategic. Why? A tactical approach is easier for them to sell, an... (more)

Last week we launched a new column called "Web API Expert," in essence, to provide a deeper focus on the emerging number of Web APIs out there, and show how to leverage them for mashups or other applications. This is the most exciting and interesting area of the emerging Web righ... (more)

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... (more)

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 w... (more)

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 state of the union of ... (more)

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 (such as StrikeIron... (more)

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... (more)

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 ... (more)

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 ... (more)

We seem to be riding a new wave…or the combination of two waves really…the Web and SOA. 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... (more)

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 enablin... (more)

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 organizat... (more)

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... (more)

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 unde... (more)

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 belie... (more)

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"... (more)

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 ... (more)

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). Lately I've noticed a ... (more)

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. If you're willing to take... (more)