IBM blows open development silos

It's only Rational

By Drew Cullen, 6th June 2006

Developer silos: who needs ‘em? IBM says they are a Bad Thing and here is why:

In a typical product development cycle, multiple teams are designated to manage specific functions such as testing software for bugs, creating a software blueprint, and pushing the final code into production. The hand-offs between these organisational silos can be manual and error prone, and are further complicated when teams are distributed, speak different languages, or involve business partners.

So IBM has diagnosed the condition and now proposes a cure; a bigger, tighter IBM Rational Software Development Platform. Announced yesterday at the IBM Rational Developer Conferenece in Orlando, this now automates the software testing process and tracking changes made to software code. Upshot, says IBM, "development, test and production teams can better collaborate and break down silos for improved delivery times, lowered costs, and greater software quality".

The Rational platform contains 12 upgraded software products, to aid workflow, reporting and other drudgework. In particular, IBM trumpets the new IBM Rational ClearQuest 7 - "at the hub of this activity" - and IBM Rational Build Forge. Build Forge, bought last month, helps customers automate their build and release processes.

IBM is also promoting the technology through ISVs and other channel players. Deets here. ®

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