May 16th, 2012
Secure Delivery Center (SDC) is a marketplace that IT managers set-up and maintain to provide the exact tools, plugins and version numbers to their different project teams.
Consider SDC for your organization, if…
You’ve had a project break because the right version number of a development tool wasn’t used. Or maybe a project fell apart because a developer on your team used a different set of tools they thought were better than what was required. Maybe you’re sick of writing wikis or lengthy emails in hopes that your team follows the instructions to a tee. Or, you want an easy to view marketplace of all the tools you use in-house with ability to track usage among team members.
If you like what you hear, as some well known companies already have, then check out this technical overview of SDC presented in slide deck format. If you have any questions contact: info//at//genuitec//dot//com
Download a trial version today: http://www.genuitec.com/sdc
Tags: Eclipse, Eclipse Foundation, Genuitec, OSS, SDC, Secure Delivery Center, Software Delivery, software distribution, software management
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, Secure Delivery Center | No Comments »
May 4th, 2012
The marketing and sales team is back from a terrific week in Las Vegas with IBM at the Impact 2012 show. The show itself is huge – like 9,000 attendees huge – with a variety of sessions on everything from servers, to development tools, new technologies and best practices for developers and executives. For the most part IBM focused its efforts on its newest PureSystems technologies and methodologies – think integrated systems with elastic cloud computing and an appliance tuned workload. That’s the newest IBM play in a nutshell.
As for Genuitec, we had the best show that we’ve ever experienced in terms of lead generation, but more importantly the conversations we shared at our booth. We talked to hundreds of folks interested in learning about how our technologies can ease WebSphere migration. For example MyEclipse Blue is a replacement to IBM Rational tools or it can be an adjunct technology – meaning instead of using Rational for WebSphere development, companies use MyEclipse Blue to create their applications for WebSphere. Between functionality, cost, support and ease-of-use, the case for MyEclipse Blue far outweighs any reasons to use Rational – plus it supports WebSphere 6, which IBM is discontinuing support for very soon. Folks at the Impact show loved this fact about MyEclipse Blue, because it gives them time to migrate to newer WebSphere technologies without sticking to IBM’s rigid timeline for migration.
We also had a very funny comment from an IBM’er on the Rational team who came to tell us we give the Rational sales team a “big freaking headache.” We laughed together because he even acknowledged that at $160, MyEclipse Blue is great technology to help with WebSphere sales, and in the end it helps IBM when there are choices for WebSphere development tools.
Another area where current and potential customers found interest was with our Secure Delivery Center (SDC) product. At the booth, we weren’t pitching this particular technology hard-core, but folks wanted to know if we had technology to help them manage their IDE installation sprawl. Secure Delivery Center focuses on a “marketplace” approach to software development, much like the Eclipse Foundation, but the marketplace exists inside a company firewall. Developers and executives walked away from our booth with a new way to think about secure software development by using SDC instead of investing in a private cloud for development (SDC is less expensive anyway).
Overall, the show was a great success for us and a confirmation that all of Genuitec product are strategically aligned to give customers the most value at the best price point whether using IBM tools or doing development on their own. The ability to migrate to and from IBM technologies seamlessly address a real-world pain point, and we look forward to helping even more customers take back control of their IT processes.
Here are a couple pics from the show :)
 
Tags: apache, Eclipse, IBM Rational, impact 2012, liberty profile, migration, RAD, tomcat, venetian, WAS, WAS 6, WebSphere
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, Java, MyEclipse, MyEclipse Bling, MyEclipse Blue, MyEclipse for Spring, Pulse, Secure Delivery Center, Spring | No Comments »
April 27th, 2012
We love the space program here at Genuitec (as if it weren’t cool enough on its own, one of our founders is a former NASA employee – yeah, we’re biased AND geeky), so we wanted to share a picture from one of our friends in New York City.
Here she is – Enterprise flying over the Hudson River riding on top of a modified jumbo jet. Woohoo!
Just in, picture taken from the Sky Lobby at Goldman Sachs sent to us:
Tags: boeing, enterprise, hudson river, nasa, new york, nyc
Posted in General, Genuitec, Java, MobiOne, MyEclipse, Pulse, Secure Delivery Center | No Comments »
April 26th, 2012
Our secure environment for WebSphere® tools and technologies behind the firewall provides flexibility and security at a fraction of IBM tool costs -that’s a fact, and it’s designed specifically for WebSphere use and as a replacement for IBM Rational tools.
Download / Learn more (white paper)
Blue Secure has the distinction of providing a private marketplace to development teams. Behind the company firewall, this new security technology allows WebSphere developers to standardize on a marketplace for their teams to get all the tools they need for advanced application development. The tools can come from outside sources or internal, proprietary technologies behind corporate firewalls thereby creating a secure enterprise environment.
Our customers asked for a marketplace to showcase their technologies internally, combined with reporting and analytics on use-cases and software behavior, so in an industry first, we developed a powerful new tool for WebSphere users in MyEclipse Blue Secure Edition – a technology that collects open source software so that enterprises can “own” them without fear of changes to the code or legal issues.
Why is MyEclipse Blue Secure replacing IBM RAD in the enterprise?
Not only is it more open source compatible than RAD, MyEclipse Blue Secure gives customers a peace of mind knowing their development teams are locked-down on approved development tools, cutting down on cost overruns while maintaining continuous delivery.
MyEclipse Blue Secure supports existing RAD projects, but also includes technologies not found in RAD, such as Visual SQL Query Builders, advanced M
aven support for the enterprise, complete support for the Spring framework and more – all on top of the newest Eclipse release.
With faster builds and virtually no deployment time to WebSphere with MyEclipse Blue Secure’s in-workspace deployment feature, developers are more productive and companies are saving millions of dollars on both hard and soft costs by migrating to MyEclipse Blue.
MyEclipse Blue supports WebSphere Portal Server 7.0, WebSphere 8, as well as WebSphere 6.1 and 7. IBM’s popular DB2 series is supported with seamless database integration connectors on both Windows and Linux operating systems.
Subscriptions to MyEclipse Blue Secure Edition is available annually for about US $249.
A free trial of MyEclipse Blue Secure Edition can be obtained by contacting sales(at)genuitec(dot)com. Free trial users and those with current subscriptions receive all upgrades and full support at no additional charge.
MyEclipse Blue Secure is powered by Genuitec’s Secure Delivery Center: http://genuitec.com/sdc
Download a free trial version and let us know what you think! http://genuitec.com/sdc/platforms_myeclipse.php
**UPDATE: To address some comments coming from social media channels directed to this post – it’s not limited to WebSphere or IBM tools. You can use our Secure Delivery Center with Eclipse to create your own marketplace for Eclipse and your plugins or tools too: http://www.genuitec.com/sdc
Tags: db2, Eclipse, Eclipse Foundation, Genuitec, IBM, IBM Rational, IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM WebSphere, Java, MyEclipse, Secure Delivery Center, WebSphere
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, MyEclipse, MyEclipse Bling, MyEclipse Blue, Secure Delivery Center | No Comments »
April 19th, 2012
Our technology break-through for Android, iPhone and iPad app development means anyone can create cross-platform native apps and webapps with the release of MobiOne 2.0 M1. Now with Android support anyone can design an app once and deploy it anywhere on the two most popular mobile platforms – iOS and Android. From creating native iOS apps that are Apple App Store-ready to supporting the most popular Android devices, if you have an idea MobiOne can get you there regardless of your technical skills.
Download / Learn More
Users can actually go from concept to a deployed app in minutes using MobiOne’s intuitive user interface (UI) Design Center. MobiOne’s cloud-based, one-click deployment wizard and its powerful Test Center workbench give customers the most robust app development solution on the market.
According to the digital marketing intelligence firm ComScore, Android and iOS make up 80 percent of the US smartphone market. (Source:http://ht.ly/a3N38)
We believe that everyone should have access to cross-platform development tools that make app development simple, intuitive and fast. For example – and in an industry first – Microsoft Windows users can design and build App Store-ready iOS apps without using a Mac. This means there is no longer the additional, expensive requirements to own a Mac computer or learn Objective-C (Apple’s language) in order to design world-class apps that operate natively on iOS devices. Now, add in support for Android development, and there is no excuse for any individual or business not to have a mobile presence today – especially since MobiOne can be used by anyone.
The power plant inside MobiOne is a cloud technology that Genuitec engineered called “App Center,” where app designers can test their native apps and Web apps in a private Genuitec cloud that can be accessed from anywhere. App Center allows for easy testing of apps and webapps over the air or through iTunes. Links to apps can be shared via email or SMS for multiple device testing and previews. That means while creating an app, a designer can share it with his colleagues and friends for testing and feedback before it goes live in one or more marketplaces.
Get MobiOne free for 15 days at: http://genuitec.com/mobione
There’s much more to learn about MobiOne, please visit this link for downloads, technical details and how-to information: http://www.genuitec.com/mobile/download.html
Try MobiOne today free for 15 days. MobiOne is $99 per license.
Tags: Android, app store, apple, google, microsoft, Mobile, native app, web app, windows
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, MobiOne | No Comments »
April 16th, 2012
Enterprise risk management is a recent (but quickly maturing) science that tries to quantify the vulnerabilities and threats of operational changes in business environments, and take measures to ensure continuity. For information technology, these risks usually entails disaster recovery, security, theft and exploits. It is rare, however, that IT management gives the same sense of urgency to large scale infrastructure, platform or enterprise application “End of Life” (EOL). That is, until you’re the one having to deal with all the far-reaching fallout of that seeming innocuous phrase.
You think everything is going fine in your IT department, and it probably is. You’re a proud, card-carrying member of your vendor’s cool-kids club. But, as you whistle your way down the hall someone throws a grenade in your wheelhouse with those dreaded words from your friendly big data software salesman: “EOL.”
Your day, your week, your month, your year just got a LOT more complicated. You’ve spent the last months and years (and untold sums of cash) working with your vendors to customize and optimize your systems. It was all going peachy. Now, your support is being cut off and you’re being asked to migrate to the latest and greatest thing. Not only will it cost you a ton of cash, but you may come out the other side with more than just graying hair. And what will you get for your trouble? A reset back to ground zero waiting for the next EOL call in 3-5 years.
What makes end of sinister is the process; we seem to find ourselves trapped in a downward spiral. You are sold a large-scale system from a trusted fortune 100 company. You are told your operations are unique enough to require special customization to optimize for your needs. You build mission critical systems on top and add more customization. Every step you make takes you deeper into the belly of the beast. You get all the knowhow, support and love to build this wonderful thing. Until your mistress dumps you, that is. But she told me she loved me and we’ve been together for years and you said you were the only one for me and… well, enough about my personal life. I digress.
This “dumping” scenario is typical of how many companies deal with large software entities; at some point, vendors stop supporting their own software and you are asked to switch from one temperamental mistress to another. For example, IBM has announced they will no longer support WSAD and WebSphere 6 technologies. Why? Some will tell you the technology has gotten better and you need new stuff (to the tune of a few hundred thousand dollars and the royal pain of migration). The marketplace will tell you those companies need reoccurring revenue and old products are slipping in the sales numbers. Both are perhaps correct. I may be a cynic, but to suggest that these big data companies solely construct these elaborate migration merry go round as a conspiracy to take over our planet… now that’s just silly.
Oracle recently discontinued support for SQL Developer 1.5.1, and they held a webinar explaining why customers need to buy new support contracts for “better security” around the latest release affords. While it can be true that better security is needed, sometimes it’s a not-so-veiled ploy to get more money from customers who are happy with their licensed technologies, but the vendor is just pursuing sales opportunities.
No matter the organization or tool, the reality is that many large corporations – maybe yours – are standardized on “legacy” technologies, and those technologies are responsible for mission-critical applications and services that you provide to your customers.
Of course, you CAN stay on old tools, but the risk is high: if something goes wrong, the phone lines are dead for you. “You should have upgraded a while ago, sorry,” you’ll hear. Now, you’re stuck with old technology and no lifeline. The risk of that happening is unacceptable, so in some ways these big software companies are forcing you to pay them to stay in business. Obviously, this doesn’t give you warm, fuzzy feelings.
But on the other hand, migrating an app server – like WebSphere or Weblogic for example – is no trivial task, with iceberg-like hidden gotchas along the way. The migration can take years in some cases. Again, very few warm fuzzies are being felt.
So what is a company to do? Can this problem be solved? Perhaps not on the whole, but in part by adding a third option that can open doors to choices you didn’t know you had.
Think about this, the next time you’re installing new enterprise software: “Is there a way out of this vendor lock-in to save more money and even my head of hair?”
The answer is yes.
It’s not a huge step, but can potentially save you millions of dollars right away. Yes, millions.
Try this: instead of installing the newest IBM RAD release, try installing MyEclipse Blue Edition instead. It does the same thing as RAD and WSAD, but here’s the kicker – MyEclipse Blue supports all new AND old WebSphere technologies. And all Eclipse, MyEclipse and RAD project structures.
There’s no heavy-handed migration path on the software side dealing with incompatible XYZ features, and no koolaid to drink; just one, easy environment for all RAD and WSAD customers. (Hint: it supports Tomcat, WebLogic, JBoss and has about 35 server connectors too – a true migration powerhouse)
There’s a small, warm fuzzy for a change.
This means if you want to keep using WebSphere 6, then Genuitec will allow you to with its MyEclipse Blue technology. If you want to use WebSphere 8, we’ve got you covered too – in one IDE that supports it all.
Even more warm fuzzies.
What if you want to deploy your project to a completely new environment that has nothing to do with WebSphere? Like Tomcat, JBoss, Weblogic or anything else? Yes, sir.
You will now be buried in warm fuzzies, allowing your app server migration to be accomplished a bit more comfortably on your own schedule.
As for the actual app server… can we make your migration go away? Perhaps not. There will likely come time to upgrade – but we can help you with further choices there. If you’re tired of your old app server company and you’re willing to go through an upgrade process, it’s actually possible to leave them behind completely.
Imagine this: taking legacy RAD projects from 2008 and deploying them to a new, more open app server (as in, NOT WebSphere) in 2013. Yes, very possible and being done today by leading companies.
To be transparent, this is Genuitec’s sales opportunity: to support mission-critical, end-of-life technologies so that enterprises don’t have to worry about the next great software kill-off. And we’re inexpensive too: MyEclipse Blue is $159 per license annually. Not the thousands paid for WSAD or RAD or other software tools.
Consider this your opportunity to take baby steps out of the end-of-life racket by switching from vendor lock-in to an open source friendly, fully supported technology that is MyEclipse Blue Edition. No, it won’t save the IT universe. But it can save a few sleepless nights in the short-term, and set you up for success further down the road.
After all, getting choices during your software EOL is like getting a rope thrown to you as you sink in quicksand. The first step is to get out. Then you’re free to decide where in this IT jungle to go next.
Tags: IBM, IBM Rational, JBoss, MyEclipse Blue, oracle, RAD Eclipse, vmware, Weblogic, WebSphere
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, Java, MyEclipse, MyEclipse Bling, MyEclipse Blue, MyEclipse for Spring | No Comments »
April 3rd, 2012
For the management of Open Source in the Enterprise, SDC has come a long way in a short time. In this first update of SDC 2012, we’ve got a number of features our customers requested. So let’s jump right in to the summary, with details and graphics below:
Download SDC /Learn More
1. New End User Catalog
From the SDC help menu, this new feature allows end-users easy access to approved software within the enterprise. Software can be prominently listed as “featured” when SDC launches so it’s easy to find or is searchable within the help menu. Using security policies, administrators can make this new software visible to some or all team members depending on the scope of their projects. Third party libraries are now visible in the SDC catalog as well. **Details below.
2. New End User Menu
Again, using the help menu end-users now have a simplified menu for accessing additional software, checking for software updates, and logging in for package administration. **Details below.
3. More Detailed Third Party Libraries
Beyond adding additional software and simply sharing it, new third-party software capabilities include software branding, titles, and descriptions. **Details below.
4. New Delivery Groups
Delivery Groups are a new requirement when creating packages. Delivery Groups organize packages for delivery to specific groups in your organization, thus simplifying sharing of packages with a team of engineers. Each package is assigned to a single Delivery Group. **Details below.
5. New Environmental Policies
Environmental policies allow you to set common configurations that apply to multiple packages, keeping you from having to duplicate company-wide preferences in each package. **Details below.
6. New Web Installation Flow.
Packages can be installed directly from the web portal page without first downloading an installer. **Details below.
7. Enhanced Web Portal
The server now has an integrated rich portal to ease distribution in your organization. **Details below.
8. Automatic Update of Admin Console
When a server update is installed, the Admin Console can remain open and the console update is triggered automatically after the server builds the Admin Console installer. **Details below.
9. Improved Server Performance
Improvements have been made to the SDC server to make processing more efficient. *Details below.
10. New Authentication Extension
The Admin Authentication Extension allows you to use your company’s name lookup service, e.g. LDAP, instead of having the SDC server keep track of your administrator accounts. **Details below.
Lastly, there are many additional enhacements to SDC that you can find at the bottom of this post. So grab a cup of tea, and check out how SDC can help you today.
**Start**
New End User Catalog
SDC administrators can expose an easy-access software catalog to end users. The catalog is available to end users from the Help menu in their software package.
End-user catalog accessed from the Help menu
Third-party libraries can be tailored to appear in the catalog by selecting the Visible in Catalog if Security Policy Allows checkbox.
Third-party library set to be included in the end-user catalog
Catalog visibility is controlled from the package’s security policy. You can disable the catalog so it is not available to end users.
End-user catalog setting
However, if you enable the catalog, you can chose to make only certain software visible in the catalog via the package’s security policy. For example, if you set a third-party library to be available in the catalog, you can set the software’s visibility in the package’s security policy to available or not available. Catalog software can also be set as “Featured.” Featured software appears when the catalog is first opened by end users.
Catalog visibility control with featured software set
New End-User Menu
End users have a simplified menu for accessing additional software, checking for software updates, and logging in for package administration. These menu items are accessed from the Help menu. Install from Catalog allows end users to install from a software catalog. Install from Site allows end users to install software from an update site. Administer Package opens the Package Admin view (formerly called Software Configuration). These are all available only if you allow them in the package’s security policy.
End-user menu
More Detailed Third-Party Libraries
Administrators can add third-party software library details to simplify software selection by administrators and end-users. New third-party software details include software branding, titles, and descriptions.
Third-party library software details
When you expose a third-party library that requires additional software to be installed, such as with Subversive, you can include the additional software as part of a single catalog entry so end users are not required to know to install the additional software separately. Additional software to be installed in conjunction with selected third-party software is added via the Also Include box of the software details.
In the example below, the Subversive library includes software from two update sites. You can select one to expose in the catalog, and then include additional software to be installed along with the one appearing in the catalog. In this way, you can have a single Subversive entry in the end-user catalog, and it will install all required software with a single installation.
Including additional software from the Subversive library to be installed along with SVN Team Provider
New Delivery Groups
Delivery Groups are a new requirement when creating packages. Delivery Groups organize packages for delivery to specific groups in your organization, thus simplifying sharing of packages with a team of engineers. Each package is assigned to a single Delivery Group.
By setting a delivery group web address, each group has their own portal page from which to access their specific software, e.g., http://server/groupname. Group and installer branding is part of Delivery Group configuration; therefore, the group landing page is easily identified by their group branding.
Delivery groups – group branding
Delivery groups – installer branding
Portal displaying multiple delivery groups
New Environmental Policies
Environmental policies allow you to set common configurations that apply to multiple packages, keeping you from having to duplicate company-wide preferences in each package. These global configurations can include command line and VM arguments and package properties, as shown below. Each environmental policy setting can have separate configurations for each operating system, if necessary.
Environmental policies
Besides command line and VM arguments, you can set global config.ini settings, workspace settings, and software in the Environmental Policies. The default environment policy included when you install SDC has no configuration. It is ready for you to configure as required by your organization.
Properties, Workspace, and Software environmental settings
New Web Installation Flow
Packages can be installed directly from the web portal page without first downloading an installer. When viewing a group’s portal page, the browser detects the operating system and displays an installation link to install direct from the web. Downloadable installer files are also available.
Available packages on a group portal page
Clicking Install Now begins the installation process directly from the web browser. After the installer is prepared, the process is the same as installing from a downloaded installation file.
Web installation
Enhanced Web Portal
The server now has an integrated rich portal to ease distribution in your organization. End-user access to packages is simpler due to package grouping, the ability to filter the package list, and more detailed package information. The Learn More About this Package link opens the package details.
Package details on the portal page
The portal’s Administration page is more robust, showing license usage, system information, and server activity, in addition to access to Admin Console installers.
Admin portal page
Automatic Update of Admin Console
When a server update is installed, the Admin Console can remain open and the console update is triggered automatically after the server builds the Admin Console installer. You no longer are required to download the installer to update the Admin Console. When you click the Update Now link, the installer begins automatically. If the Admin Console is out of date, server operations from the Admin Console are blocked until the console is updated.
Admin Console update notification
Improved Server Performance
Improvements have been made to the SDC server to make processing more efficient.
- Supports multi-threaded downloads using multi-threaded download tools like DownThemAll!.
- More efficient file transfers, keeping CPU usage down while servicing many clients.
- Lower memory usage while working with manu files simultaneously.
New Authentication Extension
The Admin Authentication Extension allows you to use your company’s name lookup service, e.g. LDAP, instead of having the SDC server keep track of your administrator accounts. By using SDC extensions, administrators can customize how SDC runs. To make extending SDC easier, you are provided with the following:
- Example source code
- A jardesc file for easy JAR creation
- An exported example extension that you can install onto your SDC server
- The sdc-extensions.jar against which you can code your extension
- JavaDoc for the extensions API
Miscellaneous Additions
Several smaller additions and fixes are included in Update 1.
- Eclipse Discovery 3.7.2 Pack now available. This pack is used by MyEclipse 10.1.
- Sun Java Pack, now referred to as Oracle Java Pack, updated to 1.6.0 u31.
- New ability to enter username and password when importing from authenticated update sites.
- New license expiration warnings prior to and after expiration.
- Better notification when server access is unavailable when attempting a process that requires server access – adding a third-party library, committing a change, promoting a change, changing an admin password, and adding an admin.
- SDC server control scripts on Linux now more compliant with the Debian Linux distribution.
Tags: Eclipse, Eclipse Foundation, enterprise eclipse, Java, open source delivery, open source distribution, open source management, Software Delivery, software distribution, software management
Posted in Eclipse, General, Genuitec, Secure Delivery Center | Comments Off
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