"Managing complexity ... creates a need for managing change." That's the heart of the discussion in this month's cover story by Carolyn Pampino and Robert Pierce, two IBM change management experts who describe the concepts and goals around an application lifecycle management solution based on IBM Rational ClearQuest. We also have a case study that looks at change and release management requirements at a major electronics company, as well as a discussion of combining a popular open-source change management product with IBM Rational solutions.
And that's not all. Roger Dunn explains "GQM"; Frank Curran explains "GPLv3"; and Gary Pollice explains robots, sort of. Let's say that Gary -- along with two new books reviewed in this issue -- makes a compelling case for getting started with robotics, and maybe inspiring our kids with some hands-on programming in the process.
Find these new articles by clicking on the "Contents" tab above, and don't forget our archives in the navigation bar at left.
Cover story:Application lifecycle management with ClearQuest 7.1.0.0: Part I, by Carolyn Pampino and Robert Pierce
This overview of the concepts and design goals behind an out-of-the-box application lifecycle management (ALM) solution for IBM Rational ClearQuest illustrates the benefits of using ClearQuest and the ALM package as your change management (CM) solution. The first of a two-part series, this article presents both the concepts and design goals of ALM in ClearQuest.
Achieving governance goals with GQM, by Roger Dunn
Read how the Goal-Question-Metric Approach (GQM) provides a way for whole teams, or individual team members, to better understand the role they play in successful software development.
Introducing IBM Rational Redbooks, by Lynn M. Mueller
If you are not familiar with IBM Rational Redbooks, this article will guide you to these book-length technical documents designed to help you understand and deploy IBM Rational products, solutions, and technologies.
Combining IBM Rational Change Management with Subversion, by Gerry Tombs
Read about the evolving needs in Software Change and Configuration Management, including the rise and success of the open-source SCM product, Subversion, and how to combine this open-source technology with IBM Rational change management solutions.
RSDC 2008 to feature William Shatner as guest speaker Register for the IBM Rational Software Development Conference, where you'll hear guest speaker William Shatner, star of the original Star Trek series. Exemplifying the best of both individual and team achievement, this special guest will boldly take you where no developer has gone before...
Becoming a world class build and release organization, by Jason B. Smith
This highly detailed case study identifies build and release challenges at an electronics and semiconductor testing company and specifies steps this company can take to develop a "world-class" Change and Release Management organization.
New Ready for IBM Rational software validations
The following solutions have been validated in the Ready for IBM Rational software offering. You can view more details on all the solutions at Plug-in Central.
AppPoint Proxy for IBM Rational Functional Tester for Oracle Forms
Rally Software Development Agile Project Management
Now available! IBM Software Delivery Catalog 2008
Find out how IBM software can address your organizations' software development challenges. You'll find a better way to manage your architecture, releases and changes, processes, portfolios and requirements, software quality and security, and much more. The catalog showcases many new products, plus links to promotional offers, papers, and events.
Book review: The Lego Mindstorms NXT Idea Book: Design, Invent, and Build, reviewed Gary Pollice
Eleven dedicated Lego Mindstorms NXT experts have written an excellent book for the roboticist who wants to go beyond the basics of the NXT and its basic LabVIEW programming environment and language, which they refer to as NXT-G.
Book review: The Unofficial Lego Mindstorms NXT Inventor's Guide, reviewed by Bob Breznak
Interested in getting started with Robotics? David J. Perdue's new book, The Unofficial LEGO Mindstorms NXT Inventor's Guide, might be a good place to begin, according to this favorable review.
Robotics for fun and profit, by Gary Pollice
Read how to get started in robotics programming, whether you want to teach the basics to students or your own kids, or simply develop a few skills for your own benefit.
