[302] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
NEW OS/2 DEVELOPMENT TOOL: IBM's TeamConnection
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM)
Thu Oct 26 06:49:28 1995
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 1995 09:08:02 GMT
From: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Reply-To: tsipple@vnet.IBM.COM
Submitted by: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Source: Timothy F. Sipples (tsipple@vnet.ibm.com)
Date received: 1995 October 24
Date posted: 1995 October 25
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IBM PIONEERS GROUPWARE FOR DEVELOPERS
Cutting-edge object repository and software configuration
management services couple to deliver an industry first
SAN JOSE, CA, October 10, 1995 ... Application development
teams are getting connected through a powerful new tool from IBM,
TeamConnection*. Combining the industry's most robust object
repository and advanced software configuration management
services, TeamConnection provides a LAN-based client/server
development environment that allows teams to collaborate during
each step of the development cycle.
TeamConnection provides an unprecedented range of
capabilities, including software configuration, version control,
and problem tracking, to manage team development through the
entire application development life cycle. From business
modeling and application design through building, deploying and
maintaining an application, developers can share data, objects,
and code in a collaborative work environment.
Ciba-Geigy Ltd., a biological and chemical company with
80,000 employees worldwide, is among a number of companies that
have evaluated TeamConnection. "TeamConnection will bring a
whole new dimension to our application development efforts," said
Patrick Deville, new technologies consultant, Ciba-Geigy Limited.
"It provides our LAN-based development team with the robust
management and library functions that we expect from our
mainframe systems. We are able to eliminate many manual steps
through the managed team development environment provided by
TeamConnection, increasing our developer productivity and
maximizing the quality of our applications."
TeamConnection is built on Object Design, Inc.'s
ObjectStore** object-oriented database, which allows the
TeamConnection repository to store, with high performance, both
coarse and fine-grained objects, such as data elements and logic
records. ObjectStore supports the information model through
which various development tools can share data and work together
to rapidly build and improve applications.
"TeamConnection creates a collaborative development
environment on the LAN," said Tim Negris, vice president, sales
and marketing, IBM Software Solutions. "It allows teams to store
development objects in the repository on the server and access
and use that information on their client workstations. The
ability to share and reuse development objects significantly
boosts productivity and software quality."
Mr. Negris added that IBM plans to aggressively seek
participation from independent software vendors (ISVs).
"With open object interfaces, TeamConnection is an ideal
repository for storing other vendors' tool data," he said.
According to Judith Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz
Consulting Group Inc., TeamConnection represents an important
component in effective team software development. "Choosing a
visual development environment is only half of the solution,"
said Hurwitz. "You need a deployment strategy for client/server."
TeamConnection server and client functions are available on
OS/2*. Server functions will be extended to AIX* and other
UNIX** platforms, and Windows NT**. Client support will be
extended to AIX and other UNIX platforms, and the Windows**
family. In addition, build support is provided for OS/2 and
MVS*, and will be extended to include AIX and other UNIX
platforms, VSE*, OS/400*, and the Windows family.
A number of cross-platform application development tools
from IBM are integrated with TeamConnection, including:
VisualGen* V2.0, a client/server visual application generation
tool; VisualAge for C++*, an award-winning visual development
environment for C++; VisualSet for OS/2 COBOL*, a visual,
object-oriented desktop version of COBOL; and PL/I for OS/2*, a
desktop PL/I-based development environment that features a
graphical user interface builder. IBM plans to further enhance
the integration of tools to TeamConnection as new releases of
current offerings and new tools become available.
TeamConnection's set of open Application Programming
Interfaces (APIs) supports the integration of non-IBM tools into
the team development environment, allowing customers to leverage
their existing investments. Today's announcement includes a new
ISV program to aggressively jump-start TeamConnection
integration.
Independent Software Vendor Program
TeamConnection can provide a set of services to ISV tools,
which will extend tool capabilities in areas that are key to
managing the application development life cycle. The first of
many vendors with leadership technology expected to incorporate
TeamConnection services is Compagnie Generale d'Informatique
(CGI), a worldwide provider of application development software
and services. CGI has integrated PACBASE/CS**, its life-cycle
development environment, with TeamConnection to take advantage of
advanced software configuration management functions.
Vendors interested in extending the value of their tools
through integration with TeamConnection can participate in IBM's
vendor enablement program. This program provides integration
assistance to qualified tool vendors.
TeamConnection's Advanced Features
* Configuration management support to help identify, organize,
manage and control access to development data. In addition,
team members are notified of changes to development data and
alerted when action on their part is required;
* Version control features, which minimize storage
requirements and preserve application versions at critical
points in the development process so that programmers can
make modifications while working with a functioning version
of their code;
* Integrated build functionality lets teams split development
into multiple parallel tasks, increasing efficiency.
Developers can create applications on one server and have
machine-specific versions automatically built for other
processor types across a LAN, dramatically increasing their
productivity;
* Packaging and distribution support handles electronic
application distribution across LANs via file server
technology such as IBM's NetView Distribution Manager/2*;
* Problem tracking and change control support manages the
process of changing development data, keeping track of what
changed, who changed it and why it was changed -- and
associates defects and features with appropriate changes;
* Reporting facility provides the ability to query data and
project status;
* A backup and recovery facility handles archival storage,
and;
* Information model provides the integrating platform through
which development tools share data.
TeamConnection for OS/2 Pricing and Availability
TeamConnection for OS/2 is priced at $1999 per user and is
available October 24, 1995. For additional information on
TeamConnection for OS/2 or the vendor enablement program, please
call 1-800-IBM-3333.
For information via the Internet, users can access the IBM
software page at http://www.software.ibm.com. Then, search on
"go TeamConnection." IBM's home page can be found at
http://www.ibm.com.
IBM, the world's largest software provider, creates,
develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced
information technologies, including computer systems, software,
networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. IBM's
Software Solutions Division provides data management, application
development and workgroup solutions for mission-critical
applications on PCs, workstations, LANs and host systems.
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation
** Products or companies mentioned are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holder.
