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WebSphere Developers Offered New Change Management Option
by Dan Burger
Companies that build, deploy, and integrate e-business applications using IBM WebSphere are faced with preparing
essential e-business functions that handle transactions and extend back-end business data
and applications to the Web. In iSeries and AS/400 shops, WebSphere applications are
dependent upon iSeries data. The applications frequently use RPG, COBOL, and ILE
programs for back-end processing power. During development, the applications' iSeries
components must be managed in tandem with all other WebSphere components.
The intrigue often begins when PC and Web developers, who are using different tools
and processes than their iSeries counterparts, cross paths during the planning, testing, and
implementation stages. That's when the collaborative, multiplatform development cries
out for some coordination, hopefully with little or no disruption to established
procedures.
One of the companies bringing calm to this chaos in the iSeries realm is SoftLanding Systems, which announced last
week the integration of its TurnOver Change Management into WebSphere Studio
Application Developer via its interface with PVCS Version Manager, the popular PC
version control package by MERANT. The combination of PVCS Version
Manager and TurnOver Change Management provides unified request-to-deployment
management of all WebSphere applications containing one or more iSeries components.
TurnOver Change Management hooks into the WebSphere Studio Application Developer
through PVCS Version Manager, which organizes, manages, and protects the software
assets from within the WebSphere integrated development environment. The integration
between TurnOver and PVCS provides a working environment within the familiar
WebSphere IDE while taking advantage of PVCS's source control, along with TurnOver's
change management functions. Those functions include application distribution,
recovery, archiving, change history, help desk, and project management. Information
continuously flows between WebSphere Studio Application Developer, PVCS, and
TurnOver without opening either PVCS or TurnOver.
The TurnOver/PVCS interface is a tool that can be instrumental in implementing a single
process for all WebSphere application development, even if the applications involve
iSeries objects. Developers will continue to use the source control product that best
supports their object types. At the same time, managers--using TurnOver on the iSeries--
can streamline higher-level processes such as project management, file promotions,
change history, and archiving through TurnOver on the iSeries.
TurnOver supports deployment to iSeries, Windows NT, Linux, and Unix servers, or to
any WebSphere server with FTP capabilities.
In addition to unifying the development process, the TurnOver/PVCS interface extends
the efficiency and risk control of TurnOver's automated software management to
WebSphere development, which often relies on error-prone manual procedures for
critical tasks such as distribution, recovery, and archiving. PVCS Version Manager 6.8,
TurnOver 5.3, and the TurnOver/PVCS interface are currently available from
SoftLanding Systems. The interface is now included with TurnOver development
licenses.
The pricing of PVCS Version Manager is $649 per seat (there's no host license), while
TurnOver has a tier-based pricing structure, starting at $11,500 for the base license.
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