Sean Rhody

This column might have been titled "on the SOAPbox," except I think I used that one already. Nevertheless, I want to discuss platforms. Politicians used to use platforms, (real ones, not some murky promises that they abandon after the election) to stand above the crowd, so as to ... (more)

When I was in college, I considered becoming a teacher, but then the thought of the pay scale as well as some time spent substitute teaching convinced me that computers might be a better way to go. I mention this because I never did get the chance to take any education courses, s... (more)

Sometimes the old clichés are the best ones. I've been working with a number of different groups and companies recently, defining and refining their takes on service-oriented architecture and Web services. In thinking about the different perspectives necessary for a full understa... (more)

Despite the fact that I have a toolbox full of tools, I'm not a mechanic. I have wrenches and sockets in all sizes and shapes, and because I'm not inherently tidy, they tend to get all mixed up in the toolbox as I use them. So as you may expect, when it comes time to tighten a bo... (more)

Recently, Paris Hilton's cell phone was hacked, and all her contact information was released on the Internet. Although I wasn't important enough to rate a listing, many other celebrities were apparently flooded with phone calls after their private numbers became oh-so-public. Whi... (more)

The OASIS international standards consortium today announced that its members have approved the  Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) version 3.0.2 as an OASIS Standard, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification. Advanced through an open process... (more)

One of the fun parts of being a software architect is trying to figure out how to build whatever it is that you are supposed to build. It's even more fun when you look at the architecture for an entire enterprise, and have to make choices that integrate every complexity and accou... (more)

A couple of issues ago, I railed about the lack of Web services- based technology to provide the last hurdle of any service - representation in a user interface. While many Web services will only be accessed programmatically, still more are destined to find their way, one way or ... (more)

As I get ready to celebrate the holidays this year, I spent a little time reflecting on what I would like from the various Web services vendors. While a case of scotch was definitely tempting, what I really want is a better toolset. To date, most of the programming tools availab... (more)

One of the things I continually rail about in the Web services world is the lack of last mile technology - you know, the ability to get a Web service in front of a user. Even though a large number of Web services are designed solely for computer to computer communication the cont... (more)

We've been covering Web services technologies for quite some time now, almost three years. In that time - I think it amounts to two eternities in Internet time - we've seen all sorts of interesting things occur. Cooperation, coopetition, even the creation of a group whose sole pu... (more)

Yes, I know it's corny, but I've had a few things on my mind regarding service-oriented architecture, component-based development, and even the infamous enterprise service bus. (Hey, at least the title isn't "Get on the Bus"). All of these have something to do with Web services. ... (more)

I was recently invited to be a guest speaker at the eBay Developers Conference, where I was part of a panel whose topic was "Delivering the Promise of Web Services." I found it particularly interesting, if slightly worrisome. What struck me most was the differentiation between We... (more)

Roughly last year at this time, as we covered the convergence of EAI and Web services, many people were asking about the ultimate survival of EAI as a software solution. In one sense, this was understandable, as the technologies that make up Web services provide significant amoun... (more)

When I started to think about writing this month's column I looked on the Internet for a good way to define service-oriented architecture (SOA). Some of the definitions were interesting, like "A Service Oriented Architecture is basically a Collection of Services" (www.service-arc... (more)

The saying goes, "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." It comes from carpentry, where it implies a certain amount of limited capability for a craftsman, but it has applicability in a wide range of situations. In particular for the IT industry, it denotes ... (more)

At one point in my career I worked right across the street from Enron. I used to pass the big E on the sidewalk as I made my way to the account I was working on. Like most of us, the fall of Enron surprised and angered me. One consequence of the Enron scandal and other accounting ... (more)

There's a joke in the industry that states that the only really secure computer is in a room where no one is allowed to go. It has no Internet connection, and no network connectivity. It has no monitor, so no one can peek over a user's shoulder to see what is on the screen. And i... (more)

One of the more interesting observations I've made in the past year concerns the model on which corporations base their IT strategies. I've visited a large number of major corporations, and there's a very strong trend. These corporations are large, with established business pract... (more)

Every year about this time, I like to take a moment to reflect on things. Some people make resolutions, but I've never been very good at that, so instead I try to take a look forward and see where the year is going to take us, and what we need to accomplish. I visit many compani... (more)