In-Depth

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Updated Iron Speed Designer; IBM's WebSphere Studio tool; IT spending steady

• By James E. Powell
• 04/01/2003

Iron Speed Designer Adds Security, Concurrency Features

Iron Speed's newest release of Iron Speed Designer builds in security and database concurrency features into generated applications. Designer develops n-tier .NET Web apps with a straightforward class hierarchy allowing for code extensions while preserving code modifications between re-generations.

New security features include generating end-user authentication (sign-in) by default and support an unlimited number of user roles. Users can be automatically signed out after a specified time period, and sensitive user names and passwords are stored in the application's existing database tables, not separate files. Generated apps can be extended to add single sign-on using active directory and LDAP.

Designer-generated code uses "optimistic" concurrency record handling for transactions. The program generates a Web-based user interface for the presentation layer, native .NET code for the application layer, and SQL and transaction management logic for the database layer.

For more information, see: http://www.ironspeed.com.

IBM Releases Toolkit for WebSphere Studio

IBM's new Branch Transformation Toolkit for WebSphere Studio helps developers rapidly develop multi-channel front-end applications for distributed retail environments. Big Blue says the set of Java development tools and components accelerates construction of high-speed, high-volume transactional applications. As part of the WebSphere Studio environment, the Toolkit uses open-standards-based software to build, test, and deploy e-business applications, including those that deliver data through channels as varied as Web browsers and cell phones.

The Toolkit, previously called WebSphere Business Components Composer, includes sample applications (addressing such areas as Web services implementation), and sample code illustrating the provision of applications as WebSphere Portal Server portlets. For more information, visit http://www-3.ibm.com/software/awdtools/studiobranchtransformation/.

Enterprise IT Spending: Slow but Steady

Research from In-Stat/MDR indicates that overall enterprise IT spending increased 3% from 2001 to 2002, and expenditures are expected to continue at that pace this year. The high-tech market research and consulting firm defines "enterprise" as "firms with 1000+ employees, including government organizations).

The report notes that spending on telecom services and equipment is expected to experience the greatest growth.

In-Stat/MDR's Chief Market Strategist, Kneko Burney, notes that combined with an uncertain economic environment, customer's requirements, with an emphasis on "mobility and need for improved information management and access, is expected to lead to cautious, hard-nosed IT investing in this market." Burney says enterprises are expected to look for investments with a well-defined, 12-18 month return on investment. Organizations are particularly interested in investments that can improve core business operational efficiency or workforce productivity.

In-Stat/MDR estimates that enterprise IT technology spending reached $225 billion last year and will grow to $256 billion by 2006.