Software developer partners are being wooed as never before by leading IT providers. Ferocious competition between these companies helps ensure, to an extent, that developer programme offerings get more compelling as each player seeks to match or beat the others.
"This is good news for developers, if they read the fine print," comments Gartner Dataquest in its recent report 'Sun makes partnering pay for Software Developers, 24 April 2002'.
"In most cases richer programme offerings come at a price, in the form of richer commitments from developer partners."
This is, however, according to Gartner Dataquest where Sun Microsystems is different. The needs and interest of developers are indivisible from Sun's interests.
"In the case of Sun, partnering is not marketing jargon. Partnering has been part of the culture for most of the company's history, so when the company says it is genuinely investing in its partners' success, it has years of experience and examples to point to," says Gartner Dataquest.
Sun has organised its software developer network - The Sun Developer Connection (SDC) Partner Programme - around the concept of community.
"Our SDC programme has no joining fees or classes of membership. It simply provides the entire portfolio of Sun offerings, including training, technical support and marketing support to every member," says Stefano Mattiello, managing director of Sun Microsystems SA.
A startup developer will therefore have the same rights and opportunities as a market leader under a Sun programme.
The SDC Partner Programme is the central programme that maps partners' fundamental needs to build, certify and market software solutions. The programme then consists of several offerings, each with different levels of participation, access and connection with Sun. These offerings are categorised as, 'Build/Deploy', 'Certify' and 'Go to Market'.
It is also through the joint efforts of Sun Educational Services and the SDC that Sun is bringing its Java Developer Week to SA. Running alongside Computer Faire 2002, the Developer Week features the Java University - hosted by Sun Educational Services - and SDC's free Developer Days.
The Java University and free Developer Days both feature international speakers including Gerald de Jong, Java developer and owner of Beautiful Code BV in the Netherlands; Walter Jenny, senior enterprise architect at Sun Microsystems Inc; and Waleed Hosni, senior technical engineer at Sun Microsystems Middle East Africa.
Focused on the latest developments around Java and related technologies such as J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) the Developer Week is a clear reflection Sun and the SDC's commitment to developers that goes beyond the borders of the US and Europe.
Gartner Dataquest confirms this: "No one can copy Sun's genuine commitment to making software developer partners succeed. Partnering is firmly imbedded in Sun's DNA."
Gautengers can book for the free Developer Day on 22 May and the Java University on 23 May 2002 at Computer Faire.
For more information, go to www.sun.com/rsa/aboutsun/events/developerweek.
To register for the Sun Developer Day, contact Nicholle Summers on 011 256 6334 or nicholle.summers@sun.com.
To attend the Java University, contact Chantelle Whitehouse on 011 256 6334 or chantelle.whitehouse@sun.com.
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