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Abstract: The Internet offers the dual benefit of reach and rich – the reach is possible because all you need is a device with a browser. The richness is possible through the technologies behind Rich Web Applications: desktop-like end user experience delivered via the Web browser. Butler Group believes building Rich Internet and Web Applications will become the default mode of application development in the future, currently driven forward by concepts intrinsic to Web 2.0, and Service Oriented Architecture. Using This Report You Will Discover:
Overview of Report ContentsIntroduction and Business IssuesThis section of the report gives a vital overview of the background issues in Rich Web Applications (RWAs) – the peak adopter market in Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). It shows how they affect software application development from a business perspective, and explains the industry trends that are shaping the evolution of the Web, such as Web 2.0, and implications for application development and business, as well as defining the terminology used in thisfield (for example, differentiating RIA and RWA). This section closes with business strategies for making use of RWA. Web Development Technology The sheer number of products and technologies can be confusing for anyone new to the RIA market, so this section starts by categorizing the type of tools that are available and the different types of developer they are aimed at. The Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) set of languages and techniques have given RWA a huge impetus within the developer community, and the reasons behind this are explained. Ajax toolkits and frameworks can be use to build RWA, often in conjunction with other Web frameworks, such as Ruby on Rails, Struts, Spring, and Zend PHP. Alternative RWA approaches include platform solutions based on Java and Microsoft .NET, as well as cross-platform browser plug-ins such as Adobe Flash: the suitability and advantages of these approaches are explained. End-to-end development environments, particularly when based on open standards, offer an alternative to writing huge amounts of custom code, as these environments exploit automation to create much of the standard ‘plumbing’ that occupies so much time and resources to develop from scratch. Finally, RWA provides the ideal presentation layer and client consumer for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). The issues involved in developing for SOA are examined in the context of RWA. Architectures, Models, and Strategies Adopting the right strategy for RWA needs an awareness of the business opportunities that Enterprise Web 2.0 offers. The opportunities include advantages of user-centric application development, and supporting mobile and remote working. A checklist for rolling out RWA strategy is also provided. This section provides further analysis into how RWA can work with SOA and then provides a security architecture. The question of security is paramount in RWA; the open ports in the firewall provide the channel for RWA, and this means that security needs to be built into the application – simply relying on layers around the application is an invitation to disaster – and the risks and how to deal with them are explained. The Butler Group Application Lifecycle Model (BALM) is then unveiled, integrating good practice processes and methodologies, such as PRojects IN Controlled Environments, version 2 (PRINCE2), Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), and Agile Software Development, and how to use BALM with RWA is explained. Finally, RWA case studies reveal how enterprises are exploiting this new technology. Vendor Comparisons This section analyzes how ALM is changing the application development tools market. It starts with an overview of the key players in the market and how ALM has evolved. This is followed by the results of surveys into application development, highlighting trends amongst developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). Finally, this section provides closing thoughts in the conclusion on ALM, project success, and the need to learn from past mistakes. It also includes comparisons of the vendors and products featured as Technology Audits below. Tables Choosing a vendor product involves examination around a number of key decision reference points, covering: standards, platforms, and protocols; RWA application development features and build environment; and advanced features. Thus, different tools suit different customers’ needs, and once these needs are understood this section will help you to select the right product. Butler Group’s RWA Tools Features Matrix allows the selected vendors and products to be seen side-by-side in terms of features and capabilities. This is followed by the Product Capability Diagrams and the Market Lifecycle Ratings, rating the vendors’ solutions over the long term. Technology Audits This Section contains in-depth Technology Audits for the ten key vendors and products reviewed in this Report:
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