Being a consultant working with IBM software (Lotus and WebSphere) a lot of the blogs I read are written by people who work for IBM. In this environment it is nearly impossible to have avoided any references to Second Life.
Link eightbar Second Life Category
Link Roo Reynolds Second Life Category
Link Alan Lepofsky Second Life Category
I have spent more than my fair share of time playing some of the more popular MMORPG's (primarily WoW and SWG though I have given up both for RL). With this background I didn't think a free MMORPG would have anything worthwhile to offer. However when I saw mention of IBM's Rational CODESTATION I was compelled to see what the buzz was all about.
CODESTATION has script and object libraries containing free samples of each, as well as a maze. Vendors near the entrance to the maze contain free robot kits. The kits contain a robot and some documentation describing how to use it. The goal being to program a robot to traverse the maze by itself, eating little bugs along the way.
If anyone involved in CODESTATION stumbles across this, kudos, very cool content. One comment, can you talk to someone about creating a version of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robocode for Second Life?
Link Rock 'em Sock 'em Robocode
Monday, February 26, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sametime 7.5 Plug In Sites
IBM announced a new resource available for Sametime users dubbed the Lotus Sametime Exchange*.
Link Lotus Sametime Exchange *
This resource is intended to be a less formal repository for unsupported free code and programming examples for Sametime Connect plug-ins. This is in contrast to the Sametime Plugin Catalog which is a more formal repository for plug-ins provided by IBM or partners that have gone through a review process.
Link Sametime Plugin Catalog
For now the only content that is available in the Exchange* is pulled directly from the samples available with the Sametime SDK. Understandable considering they just launched the resource this week.
I have a plug-in I have been working on primarily to explore the extension points involved though if I think it has any value I will submit it to the Sametime Exchange.*
One thing that I found a little odd is the lack of a packaged IDE for development in this environment. While not terribly difficult to setup Eclipse for Sametime Connect plug-in development, I feel it would have been worthwhile for IBM to package an Eclipse environment already prepared for Sametime Connect development. Not doing so is another barrier (albeit minor depending on your opinion) to broader adoption of plug-in development.
How about you? Anyone have an idea for a plugin they wish someone would write?
Anyone actively working on a plug-in they would consider placing in the Exchange?
* Being a long time Lotus Notes/Domino advocate I am not entirely comfortable with IBM's use of the profane word "Exchange". Why couldn't they have called it the Sametime Sandbox? :)
Link Lotus Sametime Exchange *
This resource is intended to be a less formal repository for unsupported free code and programming examples for Sametime Connect plug-ins. This is in contrast to the Sametime Plugin Catalog which is a more formal repository for plug-ins provided by IBM or partners that have gone through a review process.
Link Sametime Plugin Catalog
For now the only content that is available in the Exchange* is pulled directly from the samples available with the Sametime SDK. Understandable considering they just launched the resource this week.
I have a plug-in I have been working on primarily to explore the extension points involved though if I think it has any value I will submit it to the Sametime Exchange.*
One thing that I found a little odd is the lack of a packaged IDE for development in this environment. While not terribly difficult to setup Eclipse for Sametime Connect plug-in development, I feel it would have been worthwhile for IBM to package an Eclipse environment already prepared for Sametime Connect development. Not doing so is another barrier (albeit minor depending on your opinion) to broader adoption of plug-in development.
How about you? Anyone have an idea for a plugin they wish someone would write?
Anyone actively working on a plug-in they would consider placing in the Exchange?
* Being a long time Lotus Notes/Domino advocate I am not entirely comfortable with IBM's use of the profane word "Exchange". Why couldn't they have called it the Sametime Sandbox? :)
Monday, February 19, 2007
Vanilla Ice - Software Salesman
Those who make a living selling software need to take a step back and reaquaint themselves with the competition. Vanilla Ice has joined the scene schilling TurboTax through YouTube.
Link The Tax Rap
Step to the mic and record your own rap about taxes and you too could live the rock star life like Vanilla Ice, or at least get a chance to be gifted cash and or free tax software for your willingness to publicly humiliate yourself.
I think I'll pass on this opportunity. If there was that much money in rapping we wouldn't be seeing Vanilla Ice sell software.
WebSphere Feature Packs
While not exactly breaking news I thought it worth mentioning that there are a few WebSphere Feature Packs and other packages in early availability.
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for Web Services beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for SOA beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for EJB 3 alpha
Link - AJAX Starter Pack
I applaud the direction that IBM is taking here with the release of the feature packs. The ability to provide earlier access to emerging standards implementations in this format is good for IBM and good for the community of developers and administrators that work with WebSphere.
From IBM's perspective this allows them to keep their application server closer to current in terms of standards support which helps in terms of product positioning.
From the customers point of view the benefit is twofold. First, earlier access to implementations of leading edge technologies provides opportunity for increased efficiencies and forward compatability. Second customers have more options and control in terms of the services provided their application server.
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for Web Services beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for SOA beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for EJB 3 alpha
Link - AJAX Starter Pack
I applaud the direction that IBM is taking here with the release of the feature packs. The ability to provide earlier access to emerging standards implementations in this format is good for IBM and good for the community of developers and administrators that work with WebSphere.
From IBM's perspective this allows them to keep their application server closer to current in terms of standards support which helps in terms of product positioning.
From the customers point of view the benefit is twofold. First, earlier access to implementations of leading edge technologies provides opportunity for increased efficiencies and forward compatability. Second customers have more options and control in terms of the services provided their application server.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Update Time
For those who don't do updates often this is the week to do them. Microsoft released it's DST update for Windows XP on Tuesday. Many applications rely on the OS for their time so the OS is a critical place to patch.
There are tons of great resources across all of the vendor specific sites on how to deal with the changes. While it won't be the end of the world there will be some side effects of not being prepared and it is a fact that has to be dealt with sooner or later. The rules aren't changing again anytime soon (we hope).
There are tons of great resources across all of the vendor specific sites on how to deal with the changes. While it won't be the end of the world there will be some side effects of not being prepared and it is a fact that has to be dealt with sooner or later. The rules aren't changing again anytime soon (we hope).
Monday, February 12, 2007
Why WebSphere Matters
This to IBM Press Release highlights a mission critical solution being built for the Next Generation of US Naval Destroyers.
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/21033.wss
Didn't the parties involved in this decision read the papers?
After reading all about the flagship product launch from Redmond I assumed with all of those Vista licensing and packaging options there has to be one that could run a Naval destroyer?
The win here is for open standards and the long term benefits that can they can promise.
The IBM Java Technology Center and Linux Technology Center, Red Hat and the
open source Linux community collaborated with Raytheon to create a new real-time Java and real-time Linux environment
...
This implementation can be leveraged throughout the Navy. To ensure long
term viability and broad industry acceptance the initiative used widely accepted
standards as the basis for these product improvements. IBM WebSphere Real-Time Java product implementation is compliant with the Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) and the real-time extensions to Linux are conformant with the
Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standard.
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/21033.wss
Didn't the parties involved in this decision read the papers?
After reading all about the flagship product launch from Redmond I assumed with all of those Vista licensing and packaging options there has to be one that could run a Naval destroyer?
The win here is for open standards and the long term benefits that can they can promise.
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