It is hard to talk about Big Data without talking about management, integration and warehousing matters. There are just so many things that are involved in data management. Almost all businesses have Big Data projects that are currently in the pipeline. Handling Big Data is a major headache. There are so many things that you … continue reading
There are a number of reasons why companies avoid automated UI testing for their mobile apps. Many are new to mobile development and are in a sort of Maslow’s mobile hierarchy of needs, in which perceived survival depends on just getting the app working, and things downstream in the workflow seem like luxuries. Even teams … continue reading
The way that large enterprises extend existing functionality into mobile apps must change the way they think about and manage the development process. Consider for a minute Yelp’s mobile app and the one for your bank. On the surface, both apps seem to obsess over ease of use and having visually appealing interfaces. However, just … continue reading
A couple of years ago, loyal readers of this column will remember I wrote of getting into a crash with a wrong-way driver. That kicked off a column about information sharing and data management, where I posited what a wonderful world it would be if as soon as the crash occurred, the police, my body … continue reading
Last year, Amazon Web Services chopped prices for the 42nd time since 2008. For many industry observers, the move sent a clear message to Amazon’s competitors that if they’re looking to scoop up some of the company’s market share, they’ll have to be willing to cut into their own profits by offering the lowest prices … continue reading
You probably know that to be highly productive you should master your programming language(s), know common data structures and patterns, have a working knowledge of algorithmic analysis, and so forth. But there is more—much more—to being employable, a developer who doesn’t spend any time on the bench, worrying about their future. This may seem like … continue reading
Ask any business leader if they’re OK relaxing their mobile security standards and they’ll quickly tell you it’s not an option. But as mobile apps transition from standalone experiences to integral parts of an overall physical/digital ecosystem, securing them becomes more complex and more dynamic—a job well beyond the duties of mobile app developers. Mobile … continue reading
The success or failure rate of a development team can largely be correlated with the expertise and skill sets represented by its individual members. Sometimes, software development C-level officers can become so mired in the myriad aspects of running a business and getting products released as quickly as possible that they lose sight of what … continue reading
DevOps—the integration of development and operations teams to drive faster and more efficient applications to the business—has been championed as delivering a wide range of business and technical benefits. Whether it’s more stable operating environments, faster delivery of features, quicker resolution of problems, or continuous software delivery, few industry pundits and analysts dispute the benefits … continue reading
I’ll jump straight to the punch line: It takes more than agile tooling to make you agile. That’s probably not what you expected to hear from a guy who makes sophisticated collaboration tools. (Or, if you did, congratulations on being a mind reader. Now please get out of my head.) But it’s the truth. And … continue reading
Remember the reality presented in the movie “The Matrix”? While the population lived in a fantasy world, they were actually being used as an energy source. A small group of revolutionaries led by Neo would fight the powers that be to free the human race. The world as the machines and Agents knew it was … continue reading
Software testers may at times feel like their efforts are not fully appreciated by project programmers and developers. In some instances, they may even face a great deal of disdain from these parties and be seen as drags on the production process. These conditions can become so far gone that quality assurance teams may feel … continue reading
Mergers and acquisitions in the first six months of this year grew by 3% over the last six months of last year, according to a new study by mid-market investment bank Berkery Noyes. That’s a positive sign that investment in the technology sector remains strong. In fact, beginning from the last six months of 2013, … continue reading
Executives understand that mobile application quality matters. They realize that employees and consumers have a wide range of choices, and that they are willing to abandon apps at the first sign of poor performance. They may even know that 22% of apps are only used once, and 60% of users who don’t return to an … continue reading
