In any software and software-related project, irrespective of the scale or nature, the project control, planning, deployment, integration and the speed and quality of execution are of critical concern. The advent of the new programming tools that are now available, means that smaller teams of developers are able to deliver complex applications on time, within budget and in a manner that addresses customer satisfaction This is, however, the exception rather than the rule.
Most development projects in fact fail to be executed on time, or within budget, and are seldom seen to meet end-user expectations. The challenge is to automate the core and tedious elements of software development and to allocate quality time to the refinements and value adding aspects of solutions. It is also vital to ensure sustainability and low life cycle costs in respect of future changes, once the solutions have been delivered (change on demand).
To address the issues, several vendors have created Integrated Development Environments (IDE). The IDE concept has been hotly debated in the past few years with the adherents and proponents of different philosophies and paradigms each claiming their approach is stronger academically and practically. While the minimum functions and benefits expected of an IDE are generally accepted, the deployment models and approaches are at odds. It is usually quite difficult to crystallise the exact pros and cons between the IDEs. The primary concerns in evaluating IDEs are the role and use of the modelling, the speed of development and the ability to contain leakage between design and delivery.
In this regard, the concept of MDA (model driven architecture) aims at the goal of longevity (through business logic and architecture migration between different platforms) as well as achieving continuous quality improvement (through raising the levels of abstraction). From a business process modelling and execution perspective it is critical that a seamless mapping between high level, platform independent business process definitions and platform specific, executable code is achieved. In this regard, a “top-down” approach can be adopted, starting with high-level UML models down to executable code, while the other approach that can be taken is a “bottom-up” approach, with proprietary modelling integrated within the IDE. It is a challenge to determine the extent to which each approach implements the MDA concept and how they support service-oriented architecture. It is also extremely important to separate the approach taken from vendor-specific approaches, terminology, formats etc.
The most important concern from the perspective of MyVoip Communications (MVC), however, is that an IDE is effectively only a very sophisticated tool or toolkit and a structured approach. It assumes that the project team has high-level skills and that they can easily become proficient with the tools and that they are familiar with the design, coding and delivery issues, or are at least aware of them. MyVoip has abstracted its approach above the level and arguments related to IDEs. They have an inbuilt IDE, or can just as easily work with another IDE. It is their belief and experience that skills are generally in short supply and that it is the management issues around the methodology deployed that create the delivery issues. In fact, the arguments around the IDE may end up being academic if the total life cycle costs and the project approach and the related management issues are not optimally addressed.
In addition to being able to address the software, process integration and information technology systems issues faced by its clients, MVC is also able to address their architecture, design protocols and delivery requirements. The MyVoip offerings are state-of-the-art and leading-edge, in addition to being robust, reliable, flexible and cost-effective. This enables its customers to derive the benefits of the various offerings and innovations in technology without putting their day-to day operations at risk and maximising the investment in new technologies.
The RAD Toolset embodies and addresses the management aspects of large projects and is an integrated process-to-application creation and delivery platform that supports a rich repository of enterprise class business components that can be fused together to deliver personalised enterprise solutions. A central information repository and an intelligent code and component integrator form the cornerstones. The MVC repository holds information pertinent to the various business processes comprising the solution. The repository is structured in a fashion that enables application generation over multiple technologies. Its principal strength is that users can see the screens and debate the business rules and flows, before a single line of code is generated. This has huge training cost and time impacts. The RAD (Rapid Application Design) Toolset reduces risk involved in investment in IT by providing an application preview, thus allowing for early visualisation of the application for feedback and refinement. It also generates the majority of the application code automatically across all the layers of the n-tier architecture. The business rules alone need to be hand-coded. This creates high and consistent quality software, reduces project complexity and shortens the time-to-market. The same applies to future modifications and additions to the software suites.
MyVoip Communications (MVC) is a 100% HDI-owned corporation with a BEE Level Three Compliance Certificate from Empowerdex. Its consultants have extensive experience in developing solutions across the entire it development cycle. MVC specialises in cost-effective, universal open source technologies using various development tools and languages, and specialises in bespoke Java development. MyVoip is managed by a number of industry specialists that are able to address all of the various requirements of design, construction, modification, delivery, integration, training, roll-out and implementation of all aspects of solution design, construction and delivery. The RAD Toolset was initially developed to facilitate MSI in Polokwane meet tight deadlines. The complex tender management tool that MSI required to deliver was attempted by three sets of developers over an 18-month period. All of these had failed. MVC was able to deliver a solution within two months - on time, in budget and in exact compliance with the user requirement specifications. Mohammed Badat, the CEO of MVC, is confident his organisation of committed professionals can do the same for you.
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