Friday, April 18, 2003

Web Services Interoperability & SUN Setting? The Web Services Interoperability Organization ("WS-I") has announced the release of a toolkit that tests the interoperability of the WS-I Basic Profile. Important development but what's equally important (if not more) is to fully address the need for WS-Reliable Messaging and above all, WS-Security. I recall several years ago, I worked on a client-server system project at a Wall Street Bank. Down there, the SUN never sets - SUN hardware was everywhere. Recently, I read a brief research report from the META Group (an IS/IT 'Think Tank') about the fate of SUN. They give its survivability through 2008 but question it beyond that! Some of META Group's recommendations include de-emphasizing SPARC (hardware) and SOLARIS (software) and that leaves it to embrace Intel architectures and LINUX. Curiously, hardly a mention about Java! We'll see if Scott McNealy will do that - in this industry, the future is almost always here. 9:16:51 AM