Software Guidance & Assistance Review

Creating the Connectivity in the IT Industry: Middleware Jobs

Posted on October 30, 2011

To keep up to the changing scenarios of the IT industry, developments need to be taking place frequently. To grow along with the industry the organization has to be well knit with skilled professionals giving their best and to live up to the standards of the company in the market newer software's and applications are developed frequently.

One such software that was developed lately in the 1980's is a relatively new addition to the computing landscape and it's known as Middleware. It was the solution to the problem of how to link newer applications to older legacy systems. It also facilitated distributed processing, the connection of multiple applications to create a larger application, usually over a network. Therefore, it was defined as Software that provides a link between separate software applications. Middleware is sometimes called plumbing because it connects two applications and passes data between them. Middleware allows data contained in one database to be accessed through another. It sketched another path in the IT industry for the engineers, to choose amongst the different available paths for shaping their career.

Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact. This technology was evolved to provide interoperability which is most often used to support and simplify complex distributed applications. It includes web servers, application servers, and similar tools that support application development and delivery. Middleware sits in the middle between application software that may be working on different operating systems and makes working more accessible and healthy. Professionals having knowledge of middleware is proved as a boon to the organization as they would be able to connect to the older software's and applications as well as the newer ones and bring in a connectivity between the two and help in the growing of the organization on a faster rate as compared to the earlier years.

Though this is very essential software, there are just three major vendors providing this software. The main uses of this software is to locate transparency across the network, thus providing interaction with other services or application's and be independent from network services and be reliable and always available for the users. Professionals having knowledge in middleware jobs have to quite attentive to the required needs and be always present as connecting requires availability.

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Silverlight Vs Flash Vs HTML5

Posted on October 26, 2011

When it comes to custom web development, there seems to be a lot of talk between the three different platforms for video and animation. Flash has been the most used platform for streaming videos and animations but HTML5 and Silverlight are attempting to take its place. What separates these three technologies, and will one of them ultimately prevail over the others?

Everybody is familiar with Flash, especially when it comes to custom software development. It's used on major websites such as YouTube, Hulu, and other video sites. The technology is also used on portable electronic devices and more companies are trying to support the format for their users. The fact of the matter is that Flash is deeply rooted into computer users and is used by almost all users.

As you may know, HTML is the programming code we use to create websites. You can go to any website and view source in order to read the HTML code in which it is written. HTML5 was released with new features, specifically the ability to include audio and video within the code. The addition of this feature will result in Flash no longer being necessary for multimedia, greatly impacting the market between these three mediums.

Silverlight is a plug-in designed by Microsoft that allows users to stream video, audio, and interactive content. This plug-in is designed to work with all operating systems and will also support all the major browsers out there. It doesn't matter if you use Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer -- Silverlight is made to work with all of them. Silverlight is an already-popular, growing alternative to Flash. Some notable companies already leveraging Silverlight include Netflix and Major League Baseball. Netflix's instant streaming player and MLB's video highlights and news clips both rely on Silverlight.

With the release of HTML5 and the growing popularity of Silverlight, many people in the tech world and Internet experts are saying that Flash will no longer be necessary. Some are going as far as saying that these two technologies will render Flash obsolete. In order to get an accurate prediction of what will happen, you really have to look at the user base.

When you think about it, Flash already exists in the core of our computer and electronic device usage. Many of us are not even aware that we are using Flash and don't really want to deal with anything new. As for web developers, there is a huge community supporting Flash and the use of it.

This means that it will be really hard to replace Flash altogether. Consider that some of the most trafficked websites on the Internet use Flash, it will also be a big move to replace it. Of course there are some sites like YouTube and Vimeo that are adapting to technologies such as HTML5. That does show that it is being considered and in some cases accepted.

Silverlight application development will improve as it becomes more used and the user base grows. While some are saying that it may outshine HTML5, you have to understand that no tool is right for every job. It will be an option for web developers to support Silverlight but different jobs will require HTML and Flash.

HTML5 also has limitations. It cannot stream video according to the user's bandwidth. This means that subscription sites like Netflix will have issues with HTML5. Silverlight also has weaknesses. It is designed on Expression Blend and Expression Design which many designers don't use.

Silverlight is also browser-based and cannot be used on applications. It also will not support H.264 video codec. Of course when you talk about the limitations, you have to understand that Microsoft will be making improvements in order to keep its product up to speed with the its high profile competitors.

While HTML5 and Silverlight are exciting technologies, it's hard to say that they will replace Flash. HTML5 and Silverlight have to be promoted and will have to persuade the majority of the population that uses Flash. This will be a tough uphill battle and may be a losing one. Both developers and users are used to Flash and use it on everything from their computers to mobile devices like Android-powered smartphones and tablets.

It may seem like this is a battle between Silverlight, Flash, and HTML5, but Silverlight and HTML5 may actually be alternate ways to deliver the same result for users. Developers looking for custom software development may find many unique uses for the new technologies but it's really hard to say that either one will replace Flash altogether. In the end, the real benefit will be the users. As these technologies continue to compete with one another, the quality of the products delivered via these mediums will increase, providing a superior user experience.

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Insights to Software Testing Career

Posted on October 12, 2011

New to Software Testing? Been in the Software Testing career for a while? No matter how much or little experiences you have, you will always find different challenges regardless of which industry you are in, or the size of your team. I would like to share with you some things I have learned throughout the years and hopefully this will give practical perspective of software testing.

Many projects that I have worked had the software deployed in production without any formal documentations or sign off procedures. The challenge for me wasn't about how to test the system with little information but to give confidence to the business owner or users that we have developed a robust system that will support their daily business activities.

Software Testing is very much similar to research and development where planning and analysis must take place. There are three main factors that contribute to successful testing:

  1. Testing scope must be clearly defined;
  2. The knowledge of the system under test;
  3. Interpersonal skills.

It is very important to know 'what' first before we can start thinking about 'how'. When I said 'what' doesn't mean knowing everything up front but it is something that every team member is aware the work to be done in the next days, weeks or months. By knowing where to start we can prioritize deliverable tasks to a point where the system ready for acceptance and released to production.

Effective testing is not about executing a large number of test cases but it all about finding as many defects in the shortest time possible. Every tester should have a good knowledge of the system functionality. The learning process usually starts from spending time with the Subject Matter Expert then followed by reading software specifications. Learning phase should be taken into considerations when estimating the effort to complete testing phase.

Last but not the least testers should work closely with every team members from business users, Business analyst and development team. Good interpersonal and communication skills will surely help working in an environment where we need to liaise with people from different background and expertise. The right answer comes from asking the right question to the right person.

In summary, career in Software Testing can be challenging yet rewarding. Regardless the size of your organization or project, you will need to focus on these areas and everything else will fall into place. You must first know what you need to do, learn what you need to do and communicate with your team members what you do. I hope you find this article is useful and all the best with your career.

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