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September 20, 1999

Partnerships Boost Modeling Development

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Plans call for full integration of Rational Suite into IBM's Application Framework for E-business. IBM's San Francisco Application Business Components-1,100 templates designed to give developers a head start building Java-based E-business applications-are delivered in the Rational Rose modeling format. Development groups will have a framework to use, best practices to follow, and detailed help specifically for their IBM environment thanks to Rational Unified Process.

IBM's Insurance Application Architecture already supports integration with Rational Rose, and Rational Suite TestStudio can automate application testing for VisualAge for Java. IBM's WebSphere Application Server uses Rational Suite PerformanceStudio for application testing. Seamless interaction between development, modeling, and testing tools promises to save time by using common data formats and unifying the developers around a shared architecture.

Even third parties are getting into the Rational Rose integration act. Ensemble Systems Inc., a Rational Unified Solutions Partner, last month unveiled the release of RoseLink. Similar to the XMI bridge between the modeling language and IBM's Visual Age for Java, RoseLink bridges the gap between Rational Rose and Oracle's JDeveloper 2.0 to take advantage of the Java server capabilities in the Oracle8i database.

Riverton Software also released a modeling tool this summer, unveiling the latest version of its component-based HOW 2.1, for Visual Basic, Java, and PowerBuilder.

"Modeling is pretty straightforward now, since there is an industry standard," Gleason says. In November, Riverton disclosed an alliance with Cambridge Technology Partners Inc. as part of Cambridge's consulting and systems integration efforts. Riverton and Rational are members of Microsoft's Visual Studio Integration Program, designed to link modeling and testing tools more tightly with those from Microsoft.

New Choices
The field is widening, however. Advanced Software Technologies Inc., maker of GDPro version 3.2, another modeling tool, just disclosed a strategic alliance with Merant International Ltd.'s PVCS line of software configuration management tools. Advanced Software's goal is easier integration of modeling and configuration management during application planning, development, and maintenance.

While Greg Schottland, president and CEO of Advanced Software, acknowledges Rational's market position, he wants to tie three "best-of-breed applications" together to balance the integration benefits offered by the Rational Suite. "This market is wide-open," Schottland says.

Most participants agree that as larger companies need better modeling tools the market will grow. Rational executives believe modeling isn't just for developers anymore. Every person in the company who deals with application development, Web-server content, or application server support will someday need to put modeling on every desktop.

Internet speed pushes every developer, and users are in charge now, says Schottland. "This product space has been brutal. Developers need tools, not studies, so we have to get product out the door quickly." Advanced Software's focus, and that of its competitors, has sharpened the last two years. The aim is to help developers write better code faster.

James E. Gaskin is an author and consultant in the Dallas area. He can be reached at james@gaskin.com or through www.gaskin.com.