Futurist Update March 2003
News and Previews from the World Future Society
Comments and Feedback:
COMMENT:
RE: Software That Writes Software
As a Computer Scientist, let me say that it works great with my Perpetual Motion machine
From a quick skim through the site, it looks to me like it is the same as all the other RAD tools out there, except:
1. It's web based (cf. Microsoft's .NET)
2. It has a fair bit of business-specific code built into itThe similarities to the RAD tools are:
1. They've written a lot of modules that you stick together
2. Visual DesignBasically, companies tend to prefer to develop their own solutions for a lot of stuff. I see more possibilities as Open Source grows. As there are more pieces to plug together over time (as there will be with Open Source), programming will mostly be done at a higher and higher level. This is a trend which has been going on since the invention of FORTRAN (1950s), and I can see another level coming that isn't here yet. If you want to see an example of Open Source which does part of what the Appligenics software does, check out Compiere. Please also note that you need to buy Oracle to make Compiere work (but Compiere itself is free).
Tim Nelson
E-mail: wayland@smartchat.net.auFEEDBACK
Tim, thank you for your comments.
For the avoidance of doubt, Appligenics differs from other RAD tools significantly. Appligenics is aimed at Business Analysts, and therefore enables NON-PROGRAMMERS to build software applications, from scratch.
A significant feature of what we have achieved is that you start with a clean sheet. There are no pre-written modules, macros, etc. that you stick together. Also, there is no business-specific code in-built as of course that would imply that something has been pre-written (you might be alluding to the design templates that we offer, but these are just re-use of designs rather than pre-written code). Of course, if you have existing applications and data (which is the norm), then you can integrate with them - accessing databases and other modules in a secure manner.
What we have done is encapsulate the rules for writing Java applications in our Generator product - this was no mean feat! This is fed by our Designer, into which the business analyst specifies their own design. Another special achievement that sets Appligenics apart, is that we have simplified application design considerably. We enable the user to define the simple stuff once, and then get on working out the important part - the complex rules of the system.
If I may, a caveat on open source: ComPiere may be free but it ties you to Oracle, so you have proprietary lock in. What if you don't use Oracle? This was a big failing of the 4GLs - nobody wants proprietary lock-in. We have deliberately taken steps to avoid this and keep an open mind on the platform you use - it's a click button option when you generate. Therefore, Appligenics will work with all the major databases, and all the major application servers.
The real message for Futurists is that IT has become too expensive and we need a way out. Appligenics is another step along the way.
Jim Close
E-mail: jclose@appligenics.com
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