Like blossoms in springtime, there are signs everywhere that developer communities are playing an increasingly important role in the development processes of even the largest of traditionally proprietary software vendors.
A recent and refreshing reminder of this phenomenon was the first leg of Microsoft`s roadshow to promote the latest editions of its SQL Server, Visual Studio and BizTalk Server products.
Gone are the days when large software development houses can work in isolation, and fortunately the likes of Microsoft, Oracle and others have responded in a meaningful and positive way.
At the Microsoft launch, developer community involvement was emphasised across the board, with senior director Jon Beighle acknowledging that feedback on preview editions of the new software had resulted in thousands of bug fixes before the official release - surely an improvement on the way things have been done in the past.
The best response from the largely developer audience was to the various enhancements that have been introduced to Visual Studio 2005, which was perhaps the clearest indication that Microsoft is pursuing the developer vote very aggressively to help ensure market strength in new markets as well as old.
Getting them young
Gone are the days when large software development houses can work in isolation, and fortunately the likes of Microsoft, Oracle and others have responded in a meaningful and positive way.
Warwick Ashford, portals managing editor
Microsoft obviously believes in getting them young, judging by the introduction of express versions of its software. The express edition of Visual Studio, for example, is clearly aimed at inculcating young developers by enabling them to put together Windows-based applications and Web sites for personal use at no cost.
Although it may be argued that such express editions available from Microsoft and Oracle as free downloads are not entirely altruistic, it may also be argued they have an important role to play. This is particularly true in emerging economies like SA, where early exposure to software development tools could have an extremely positive effect in terms of developing software-based economies in future.
Another indication that Microsoft, in particular, is taking the developers seriously and considers them important allies is the fact that the new broader range of Visual Studio editions addresses every segment of the community. This includes express editions for students and hobbyists, through the standard edition for Web and professional developers working in small teams, to the new team system version for software organisations to enable collaboration between role players at all levels in the development process.
Win, win
Undoubtedly driven by a need to find new ways of winning and maintaining market share, this new developer-oriented approach to development is a good sign.
This is clearly a win, win strategy that is bound to benefit everyone by delivering new opportunities to independent software vendors, and a wider choice and better quality of application to business and other end-users. It will also provide vital exposure to software tools for fledgling developers and at the same time entrench the underlying technologies and development platforms.
Hopefully, all the big players in the software industry will follow the example set so far and move into a new era of software development where everyone gets a fair share of the rewards.
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