Author Archives: Andrew

Review: Modeling XML Applications with UML

Practical e-Business Applications, By David Carlson

An excellent book covering an important niche

Like many web-related technologies XML and its many derivatives have evolved much more quickly than the support from traditional modelling and development tools. As a result many developers creating XML-based applications are doing so with the crudest of tools, and find it very difficult to either exchange ideas with more traditional developers, or to benefit from the strengths of more powerful tools and modelling approaches. This book sets out to address that issue, and it does an excellent job.

At the same time, the book provides a valuable introduction to a range of XML and e-Business technologies for those more familiar with traditional approaches. I found it answered a lot of questions I had about XML which had not been addressed by reading more typical “how to” books, so this book bridges the divide both ways. Read the full review

Categories: Agile & Architecture and Reviews. Content Types: Book, Modelling & Analysis, and Programming & Development.
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More Secrets of Consuting

Very good, but a harder read than “Secrets” Continue reading

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 in Reviews

The Secrets of Consulting

One of the most important books for any consultant Continue reading

Modelling an Enterprise Data Architecture

A new approach, based on UML, for modelling the real complexity of Enterprise Data Architecture Continue reading

Saturday, December 6, 2003 in Agile & Architecture, My Publications, Thoughts on the World

Combining Risk Factors

A simple analytical approach to combine the effects of multiple risk factors Continue reading

Thursday, September 25, 2003 in Agile & Architecture, Code & Development, Thoughts on the World

Modelling Change in Enterprise IT

Two simple techniques to model change in an enterprise’s IT portfolio over time Continue reading

Friday, August 15, 2003 in Agile & Architecture, Thoughts on the World

Business Modelling with UML

A very good guide to business-level modelling with UML Continue reading

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 in Reviews

The Elements of UML Style

An excellent little “bible” for modellers Continue reading

Sunday, July 13, 2003 in Reviews

A Square Peg, and Only Round Holes

Musings on whether an architect can fit neatly anywhere in a traditional IT organisation hierarchy Continue reading

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 in Agile & Architecture, Thoughts on the World

The Changing Role of An IT Architect

How an architect’s role changes over time, and through the project life-cycle Continue reading

Characteristics of a Software Architect

My musings on what makes a good software architect Continue reading

Technical Reference Architecture

“Technical Reference Architecture for Component Based Development and Enterprise Application Integration” by Tim Barrett of ComCor IT Solutions BV is an excellent summary of the characteristics of a strong, flexible, layered and component-based architecture, and the different classes which comprise Continue reading

Saturday, June 7, 2003 in Agile & Architecture