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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 16 Announce
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294646.zip
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1994-10-04
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DATA BASE : ALET PAGE: 1
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DATE 941004
CATEGORY WS00, WS20, AS10, AS60, AS20
TITLE IBM TEAMCONNECTION FOR OS/2 VERSION 1.0
ABSTRACT IBM TeamConnection for OS/2 (R) integrates software
configuration management function and object-oriented repository
services to support application development in a client/server
environment. TeamConnection delivers the integrating platform
through which development tools work together to allow a workgroup to
develop and maintain business-critical applications.
TeamConnection delivers the function your application
development teams need to manage source code, application versions,
and application configurations. It also helps automate and
streamline your application build process. The integrated problem
tracking and change control system ensures that, while your
application developers are more productive, your project leaders can
effectively manage the development process and track progress.
An open, extendable information model provides the vehicle for
data sharing between a set of integrated tools using TeamConnection.
This object-oriented information model enables an extensible
architecture, thus ensuring continued support for new versions of
existing tools, as well as new tools that are brought into the
repository environment. IBM Exchange for OS/2 provides the function
necessary to migrate a customer's existing model information into
TeamConnection.
TeamConnection is built on Object Design, Inc's ObjectStore
object- oriented database, which allows TeamConnection's repository
to store fine-grained application development data with high
performance. Its configuration management, change control and
problem tracking facilities work equally well with fine-grained data
and conventional coarse-grained data (files). The integration of
these higher level services with more traditional repository services
such as constraint checking, version management, concurrent and
distributed access, and data exchange, make TeamConnection a
state-of-the-art repository.
TeamConnection is designed to complement your existing
application development environment. It will be delivered as an
integrated component within IBM's application development solution
offerings. These include Enterprise 4GL client/server application
environment, Workgroup C++ application environment, and Enterprise
3GL client/server application environment.
TeamConnection is being made available with the VisualGen (TM)
Team Suite (VGTS), IBM's new, integrated enterprise 4GL application
environment. VisualGen Team Suite integrates the market-leading
VisualGen 4GL development product with a LAN-based set of management
and control facilities that deliver for the first time a rapid
application development environment on an object-based repository.
PLANNED BETA DATE: Fourth quarter 1994
TeamConnection will be made available Fourth quarter 1994 to a
selected set of customers. These customers are participating in a
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Beta evaluation and test, providing feedback on product function and
quality. When these customers confirm that IBM has achieved the
functional and quality objectives, IBM will announce planned
availability and detailed information regarding pricing and ordering.
IN BRIEF . . .
o Supports a defined, but flexible development process
o Keeps track of application component revisions
o Supports concurrent development with reconciliation
o Manages the application change process
o Automates and integrates the application build process
o Automates the project release and delivery process
o Provides archive, backup and recovery facilities
o Provides data persistence with rich O-O data modelling that is
OMG compliant
o Provides SOM-based programming language independent APIs
o Supports concurrent, distributed data access
o Provides mechanisms for data and event notification
o Supports schema evolution of its open, extensible repository
- Supports evolution of the current data model
- Allows extensibility of the model by others
- Facilitates data sharing
o Supports data exchange with other platforms and CASE tools
(including migration of legacy data) through the optional feature
IBM Exchange for OS/2
(R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation
(TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation
OVERVIEW DESCRIPTION
The IBM TeamConnection for OS/2 integrates software
configuration management function and object-oriented repository
services to support application development in a client/server team
programming environment. TeamConnection delivers the integrating
platform through which development tools work together to allow a
workgroup to develop and maintain business-critical applications.
TeamConnection provides:
o Information Model
The information model provides the common semantic
definition by which integrated tools share and interact. The
initial target for this information model is the management of
application development meta-data. This data includes (but is
not restricted to):
- Entity, attributes, relationships
- High level language constructs (for example, COBOL data
structures)
- Relational database definitions
- Hierarchical database definitions
- Application systems definitions
- Build process definitions (in support of automated build
processing)
- Bulk data (multiple file types are managed)
The schema for TeamConnection is defined by a set of
interface classes defined in Interface Definition Language (IDL)
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of IBM's System Object Model (SOM). SOM is IBM's implementation
of the Object Management Group's (OMG) standard. The scope of
the semantics over which these classes act is related to the tool
suites enabled to the integration framework. This scope includes
support for data descriptions from the analysis and design phase
of development through the specific characteristics for given
languages or database technology.
The specification of these object-oriented interface
metaclasses leverage a robust set of descriptive semantics.
These semantics include:
- Multiple inheritance
- A relationships framework supporting attributes,
relationships on relationships, cardinality constraints
(minimum and maximum), ordering, and complex controlling
semantics
- Passive constraints
- Complex data typing on attributes (for example, structures,
pointers)
o Information Model Schema Evolution
TeamConnection provides schema evolution facilities that
allow the information model to be extended without having to
recompile existing code. It exploits the subclassing facilities
of SOM to provide for schema evolution. These facilities are
used with each new release of the information model. Not having
to recompile the tools for changes in the information model is a
very important feature as tools normally ship just the executable
form of their products.
o Data Constraints
Constraints are methods that ensure that the data is
consistent with the definition of the information model.
Constraints are defined as part of the model definition.
Constraints are useful in that tools do not require code to
validate data in the model prior to use.
o Version Control
Version control provides the basic function of a Software
Configuration Management (SCM) tool. It controls access to the
component files and provides the ability to store versions of an
entire application so that the state of the application at a
particular point in time can be re-created. Version control
supports both serial and parallel development and includes a
merge tool for reconciling source code changes.
o Configuration Management
Configuration management identifies and classifies
application components and their relationships in a build tree.
The build tree graphically represents how components of an
application fit together, and it enables you to manage those
components and their relationships. The build tree also manages
file objects that are associated with the application but are not
components of the application. Test cases and design documents
are two examples of these file objects.
o Application Build
Application build uses the build tree in TeamConnection to
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compile and link complete applications from their subcomponents.
The application build process can segment the build activity so
that multiple build processors can be used in parallel to
complete the build faster. The application build function
controls these multiple build tasks. Application build also
automatically determines include dependencies, updates the build
tree, checks for a minimal set of objects to rebuild, and then
builds the application. The build process also encompasses
building applications for local or remote systems and building
applications that run in multiple environments.
o Electronic Software Packaging and Distribution
Electronic software packaging and distribution extends the
conventional compile and link steps of the application build
function to perform the transformation steps that are required to
prepare the application for use. The packaging and distribution
function enables applications to be distributed electronically
using LAN-based file server technology such as IBM NetView (R)
Distribution Manager/2.
o Problem Tracking and Change control
Problem tracking and change control manages the process of
allowing changes to application components. TeamConnection
provides a very strong development model that controls and tracks
modifications to software components. It associates identified
application defects and features with component modifications.
It provides a reporting facility on what changed, when it
changed, who changed it, and why it was changed. TeamConnection
manages the process of integrating related component
modifications through the ability to build the application based
on defect and feature changes.
o Backup and Recovery
The backup and recovery facility allows TeamConnection
data to be stored on alternate media for archival purposes.
However, there is no capability to merge the old data with new or
current data upon restoration because of data consistency
concerns.
o Object-Oriented Repository
TeamConnection leverages Object Design, Inc's ObjectStore
database technology and services. This high performance,
distributed, object-oriented database stores the persistent data
and provides query, locking, and transaction functions.
TEAMCONNECTION CUSTOMER VALUE
TeamConnection provides a facility for application developers to
better manage their software development process.
The increased complexity of today's software development
environment creates new problems for application developers, such as
developing graphical user interfaces and writing client/server and
distributed applications. These problems present new challenges to
development teams that are being asked to deliver software products
to market at faster and faster rates.
In addition to faster development time, customers and
employers demand higher quality software than ever before.
Successful software development organizations are measured by SEI
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maturity levels and by compliance with ISO 9000 standards.
Pressure to deliver high-quality code at a quickening pace
requires new levels of efficiency in software maintenance.
Meanwhile, application development organizations recognize the need
to manage their software as a corporate asset.
TeamConnection helps address these development issues by:
o Enabling you to manage the changes to your software more
efficiently.
o Helping you to more effectively, and with greater assurance,
rebuild your applications after they have been modified.
o Packaging your applications for delivery so you can get them to
your customers more quickly and with greater reliability.
o Providing a development model that can help increase your SEI
maturity level through a reliable, efficient, and repeatable
process.
o Providing a graphical user interface that enables you to quickly
and easily realize the benefits of TeamConnection.
o Providing extensive problem tracking and change control for both
fine-grain and course-grain application development objects.
o Supporting non-disruptive schema evolution of the existing
information model. The end users can maintain their investment
in the current tools and their existing skill base working with
those tools and still allow for introduction of state-of-the-art
tool suites into their development environment. The meta-data is
therefore evolved to allow for schema modification without loss
of existing meta-data.
SERVICES OFFERINGS
TEAMCONNECTION SERVICES FOR THE LAN ENVIRONMENT: The TeamConnection
services offering will provide customers with the tools to quickly
establish a more productive and efficient development environment.
These services offering have eight modules, all of which are
customized to meet individual customer needs.
o Operational and Technical Planning
Technical Planning includes the mapping of the customer's
current development environment to its future environment with
TeamConnection and considers implications to the customer's
processes given the planned change.
o Installation
Installation service provides for the complete
installation or assistance in installation of TeamConnection and
supporting application development tools.
o Development Environment Customization
Tailors TeamConnection to meet the needs of the customer's
environment. TeamConnection has flexibility in development
processes and also in tailorable data fields.
o Software Quality Standards and Templates
Templates provide a pre-defined set of tailored
TeamConnection fields and processes that support a specific
industry need.
o Migration
Aids in the migration of project control information and
project data from the current application development environment
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to TeamConnection.
o On-Site Education and Training
o Consulting
o Programming
TEAMCONNECTION REPOSITORY ADMINISTRATION SERVICES: TeamConnection
Repository Administration Services has six modules, all of which are
customized to meet individual customer needs:
o CASE Tool Interoperability -- developing and customizing bridges
o Planning
o Performance and Tuning
o Information Model Extensions
o Software Distribution
o Backup, Security
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