Ashith Raj Blogs

What is "service-orientation"?
Service-orientation describes a new method for architecting connected systems, and is based upon three simple concepts:

A service is a program that other programs interact with using messages.

A client is a program that makes services usable to people.

A connected system is a collection of inter-connected services and clients.

TERM OF THE WEEK: wiki

(n.) A collaborative Web site comprised of the perpetual collective
work of many authors. Similar to a blog in structure and logic, a wiki allows
anyone to edit, delete, or modify content that has been placed on the
Web site using a browser interface, including the work of previous authors.

In contrast, a blog, typically authored by an individual, does not allow
visitors to change the original posted material, only add comments to
the original content. The term wiki refers to either the Web site or the
software used to create the site.

Wiki wiki means "quick" in Hawaiian. The first wiki was created by Ward
Cunnigham in 1995, currently working with Microsoft

When you meet with customers who cite portability or the vendor neutrality aspect of Java as an advantage over the Microsoft platform, you can demonstrate that this simply isn’t true in practice.
April 11, 2005
With the impending release of the 2.0 version of the Microsoft .NET Framework , I’ve started receiving some unusual requests from die-hard J2EE companies for briefings on Microsoft’s vision for .NET 2.0, Visual Studio 2005 , and beyond. What makes them unusual is that previously these companies wouldn’t even accept an invitation to lunch to discuss Microsoft development technologies.
Based on my conversations with people from J2EE companies, I conclude that these requests are emerging because many companies have started to discern that Sun’s hopes of establishing "one Java" are not being realized. Originally, Sun promoted the concept that Java would provide the ability to "Write Once Run Anywhere." Then the portability of the J2EE enterprise application platform became the watchword. In an August 2001 article in SD Times, Judith Lilienfeld, a Sun senior product manager at the time, said that "Portability is the cornerstone of J2EE."
The idea was simple and compelling to corporations. Through the Java Community Process (JCP), Sun would specify Java application programming interfaces (APIs). This would allow vendors to build independent but interoperable implementations of those APIs. Vendors could compete on the merits of their implementations. Ostensibly, this would provide vendor independence for users of the technology. For example, you could write an application on Vendor X’s platform, and then, if you wanted to, move your application to Vendor Y’s platform. But the reality is much more complicated. In fact, except for very simple demonstration applications, that kind of portability has never really been achieved.


It’s a little too simple to dismiss the recognition of the failure of the JCP to deliver “one Java” as "Java bashing" by Microsoft.
This Is Not Java Bashing
It’s a little too simple to dismiss the recognition of the failure of the JCP to deliver “one Java” as "Java bashing" by Microsoft. Actually, most of the dissatisfaction with the standardization efforts is coming from the same experts who first promoted J2EE as the future of enterprise development. For example, in an October 2004 analysis and report entitled "J2EE: a Standard in Jeopardy," the Burton Group cited the complexity of implementing J2EE and the length and complexity of the JCP process as key challenges to the continued success of J2EE. And in a December 2004 column in SD Times, Allen Holub, a Java expert and one of its staunchest defenders, questioned the relevance of the JCP, saying, "Just look at created-by-committee junk like EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans Technology) and JSF (JavaServer Faces). I personally believe that EJB has been responsible for the failure of more companies than almost any other single technology. EJB is too expensive at every level."

Vendors Are Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
As customers demand quicker solutions than the JCP can provide, vendors are responding with J2EE implementations with extensions specific to their platform. These implementations help customers in the near term by providing support for deficiencies in the J2EE standard, but ultimately they undermine the portability premise of J2EE. Using a vendor’s extensions creates the vendor lock-in that the JCP was supposed to eliminate. Every major vendor has announced and implemented plans for their own extensions.
IBM’s WebSphere: In the recently released version 6 of the WebSphere Application Server, IBM added several "IBM-only" interfaces, including WorkAreas, Asynchronous Beans, Last Participant transaction optimization, and many others. In Gartner’s October 2004 review of the new version of WebSphere, the title says it all: "IBM WebSphere 6.0 Adds J2EE 1.4, but Users Risk 'Lock-In.'"
BEA: It promotes the WebLogic Workshop Framework, which became Beehive. Although BEA donated their Beehive framework to Apache, it remains to be seen whether users will use Beehive instead of their vendor-specific framework. And BEA still has other “BEA-only” frameworks covering such things as security providers, integration, and portals.
Oracle’s App Dev Framework (ADF): Oracle defines an uber-J2EE implementation. The company takes a different approach, however, by licensing its API layer for use on other application servers. But this is simply a different way to make customers dependent on Oracle. For example, a customer still has to build solutions by using either Oracle + Vendor X or Oracle + Vendor Y.
JBoss: JBoss defines several JBoss-only frameworks and interfaces. These include both an Aspect-Oriented framework and the new JBoss Remoting framework, introduced last month. In recognition of the growing dominance of .NET, Marc Fleury, the CEO of JBoss, LLC, acknowledged in a June 2003 InternetNews article that “We are closer to .NET in philosophy than to the J2EE spec with JBoss 4.0."
Sun Microsystems: Sun admits that J2EE is little more than a specification and will require some level of vendor implementation. More specifically, Sun defends the need for an additional layer in its documentation: "Although J2EE is a solid foundation for an application framework, it is not one itself. The J2EE specification avoids recommendations in the application development space. J2EE leaves architects and developers the significant task of designing (or adopting) an application infrastructure that suits their application development needs. J2EE alone cannot suffice." Of course, Sun’s implementation of this application framework is available only on Sun’s own application server.

The dissatisfaction with the JCP standardization process isn’t just causing vendors to implement vendor-specific implementations of J2EE application servers. It’s causing portability chaos with Web services implementations, management and administration interfaces, and any other area where vendors are being forced to create interim functionality for standards that aren’t completed or for areas that weren’t anticipated. In fact, about the only thing most of the vendors have agreed upon (except Sun) is that Eclipse should be the de facto programming environment. But Eclipse is an incomplete development environment that makes it necessary for enterprises to adopt third-party plug-ins to design Web applications, smart client applications, schema, EJBs, portals, or database logic.

An Enterprise Opportunity

Here’s the bottom line: When you meet with customers who cite portability or the vendor neutrality aspect of Java as an advantage over the Microsoft platform, you can demonstrate that this simply isn’t true in practice. While the JCP continues to bicker over standards, innovation is continuing at the vendor level. As a result, customers will commit to a vendor-specific set of platform technologies or they will pay a huge cost in lost productivity. Once the vendor lock-in issue is addressed, you have an open door to discuss how the Microsoft platform can meet their business needs better than a Java-based platform. The productivity enhancements in Visual Studio 2005 and the Web services standards work in Visual Studio 2005 and Indigo create a compelling argument for a switch to .NET now.

This new is made my day...
Currently Visual Studio.NET 2005 Beta 2 is available for MSDN Subcribers

I'm lucky I have one. It is Really a great News for lot of developers

Recently I read an article about being productive when working.

Hope the following tips will help you too.

1. Close all the messanger applications. [i.e. MSN, Yahoo, ICQ]


2. Close your email client application [i.e. Outlook]


3. Close your office room door and hang a notice "Do not disturb"


4. Have some cool music playing in very low volume.


5. Ask your assistant or the answering machine to pickup the phone.


6. Just try to follow the rules atleast for 3 hours continuously and take a break.

Belive me it works!
Enjoy your work!

What is the thinnest book in the world?"What Men Know About Women"
What's the difference between men and government bonds?
Bonds mature
How do you save a man from drowning? Take your foot off his head
What do men and beer bottles have in common?
They're both empty from the neck up
How can you tell if a man is happy?
Who cares
How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?
We don't know... it has never happened
What's a man's idea of helping with the housework?
Lifting his leg so you can vacuum
What's the difference between a man and E.T?
E.T. phoned home
What does a man consider a seven course meal?
A hot dog and a six pack of beer
What do you call a man with half a brain?
Gifted !
What did God say after he created man?
I can do better
What are two reasons men don't mind their own business?
1. No mind
2. No business
What do you call an intelligent man in America?
A tourist
Did you hear about the man who won the gold medal?
He bronzed it
How do men sort their laundry?
"Filthy" and "Filthy and wearable"
Only a man could buy a $400 car and put a $4000 stereo in it

Why did God create man?
He needed to practice

Why is it good that there are female astronauts?
When the crew gets lost, at least she will ask for directions

If you receive a phone call on your mobile from any person, saying that,he or she is a company engineer, or telling that they're checking your mobile line, and you have to press # 90 or #09 or any other number. Endthis call immediately without pressing any numbers. There is a fraudcompany using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can accessyour "SIM" card and make calls at your expense. Forward this message toas many friends as you can, to stop it.

Taurus in 2005 - Tenacity
"Diligence" is the key word for you, Taurus. With hard work and focus, you will attain at least one important aspiration that has been on your agenda for a long time. This is the year you'll want to take stock of your career and ask yourself if you're doing the work you want to do for the rest of your life. As the year progresses, the more impressive your ideas and works become. As a result, your finances improve - and your newfound confidence could attract new love into your life. By the end of the year, you will have a whole new network of friends and group activity, stimulating new ideas and taking up your social life a notch or two.

Libra in 2005 - Expansion
Flex your muscles, friend Libra, and prepare for a relatively easy ride. With beneficent Jupiter in your sign, this is definitely your year, especially where your social life is concerned. Happiness and enjoyment lie ahead. If you're not presently married, and want to be, you just might wed by the end of the year. This is the year you're going to be doing a lot of travel and learning about your world, as expansion is the theme. The one department of life that may not quite be as hopeful as you'd like could be your career, where advancement may be slow and satisfaction rare. By year's end, you may find yourself seriously considering a major change - all for the best.