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Altio is now hoping to share...
Our voice. Your input

Altio continues to take a lead in the development of Rich Internet Applications (RIA) for the enterprise and we want to share, engage and interact with those who are as passionate as we are about developing this exciting technology. Whether you are a client, developer, business manager, IT director or ... marketing manager ... in fact, anyone who is interested in "Web 2.0" for the enterprise, we would like you to be involved.

There's something in it for you...

Learn more about Rich Internet Applications and their benefits to you
Get flash, impress your boss and show off your innovative side
Add some swing, lead the evolution of enterprise technology inside your organisation

Altio Blogs. Your input.

Better Java Web Frameworks - AltioLive response

AltioLive Presentation Server features

Interesting links

Enterprise architect warns: don't let mashups go the "Excel" route

SaaS adoption is rising, but TCO remains a concern

SOA and cloud: clearing up the "foggy" relationship

Altio talk
We do not want to just broadcast - we want to listen and engage with you. Please join in with our discussions and put your view across.

Is there still a need for software developers?
OK, that was an attention grabbing headline with a serious message. Some people do hint at the fact the next evolution of application development tools may replace the need for developers. Altio's view is this is not true. We do believe RIA frameworks will provide tools that do indeed empower a broader group of people (e.g. non- technical business analysts) to deliver business solutions, however, this purely enhances the ability for developers to meet business needs.

Software should be a tool used for business success and so needs to make the creation of business solutions as simple as possible. This is the ultimate aim of AltioLive. The same thoughts must be going on at MIT, go take a look at Scratch.

Join us with your thoughts: Is there still a need for software developers?

Limited support for JavaFx in Swing hinders technology adoption
So javafx.ext.swing.Canvas still has not made it into the JavaFX package; this would have been a great utility for using JavaFX within Swing. Instead we are left with the alternative solution provided by Sun - check out How to use JavaFX in your Swing Application.

For historic reasons Swing and applets are often overlooked in favour of Adobe Flash, Swing doesn't have to be restricted to the desktop domain, AltioLive has proved this. Java Swing and Applets can be used to produce great applications and there are a lot of people with Java Swing skills. We feel the lack of JavaFX integration into Swing does not help adoption of JavaFX, it hinders it.

Java Swing is a mature and capable language. The real problem is that developers want to learn something new, rather than master something that already exists. At Altio, we feel the important principle is focusing upon business benefits instead of technology advantage. If there is a need to build a rich media UI and given the choice would a developer learn JavaFX or Flex?

Join us with your thoughts: Limited support for JavaFX in Swing

We know our first two topics are quite technical. If your focus area is more business oriented, please start a discussion on our blog - we'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Gary Thompson

Gary Thompson
Head of Technology

Altio Client Engagement
Your success. Our success.

The Altio aim is not to just be a tool for delivering enterprise web applications but to also work closely with users to ensure successful project deliveries. After all Altio can only succeed if the people we work with succeed. Regular trips and client engagements will focus upon project challenges faced by clients working with Altio, ensuring the AltioLive roadmap assists in overcoming these challenges.

"I recently undertook a trip to the USA visiting San Francisco, New York and Boston. The trip is already helping us align future AltioLive releases with the direct benefits our customers (and hopefully many more like them) are looking to deliver. "

Gary Thompson

Altio Release Board

New module on the horizon. Report writing for a new age.

As part of a joint development project (See Altio in Action below), Altio will release AltioLive Report Writer. This will enable the following reporting features:

Scheduled offline execution of reports
Web report designer, no desktop application installation
Ability to reuse AltioLive service requests
Generation of PDF, Excel and Word documents

Version release:

As part of our ongoing quality drive, we release minor versions of AltioLive every 6-8 weeks.

Sarah Lane
Senior Consultant
As part of an internal partnership programme, Sarah spent time in Boston, MA, working through a legacy modernisation project. Here are the highlights...

Altio in Action
Highlight project - (US) Mortgage Backed Securities reporting

Client Challenges:

Modernise a legacy application.
Allow new reports and dashboards to be easily adapted and extensible to serve client needs.
Create a SOA architecture for ...

Solution:

AltioLive will provide a web-based user front end (shown below) replacing the desktop client application. Altio Report Writer will be used for the report engine, with a Microsoft .Net solution providing business logic and the SOA framework.

Paragon