Posts Tagged ‘AlexisGaches’
[DevoxxFR2012] Jazz Platform: Fostering Collaborative Software Development Through Integrated Tools
Lecturer
Florent Benoit leads the OW2 EasyBeans open-source project and contributes significantly to the OW2 JOnAS application server. An expert in OSGi and Java EE, he provides architectural guidance on major Bull projects. Member of the Java EE 6 expert group for EJB 3.1 specifications, Florent holds a Master’s in Computer Engineering from Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble. He speaks at open-source conferences like JavaOne and Solutions Linux. Alexis Gaches specializes in automating software development lifecycles. Joining the Jazz movement in 2008, he architects Jazz solutions for IBM Rational, collaborating with French enterprises on agile practices for application management.
Abstract
This article assesses Florent Benoit and Alexis Gaches’s overview of IBM’s Jazz platform, aimed at streamlining collaborative software development from requirements to deployment. It dissects tools for requirements management, architecture modeling, implementation, building, testing, and project oversight. Positioned as a response to fragmented processes, the analysis reviews integration mechanisms, open-source alignments, and deployment options. Through demonstrations, it evaluates benefits for agility, traceability, and efficiency, alongside implications for organizational adoption and tool interoperability in diverse environments.
Rationale and Architecture of Jazz Platform
Jazz addresses silos in development by promoting unified collaboration. Florent outlines its genesis: enhancing processes across lifecycle stages—requirements, design, coding, builds, tests, management. Core philosophy: Tools should interconnect, enabling traceability from user stories to code commits.
Architecture leverages Eclipse for IDE integration, with Rational Team Concert (RTC) as hub. RTC supports SCM, work items, builds via Jazz Team Server. Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) standardizes integrations, allowing third-party tools like Jira to link.
Alexis emphasizes agility: Iterative planning, dashboards for metrics, reducing manual handoffs.
Key Tools and Functionalities
Requirements Composer manages specs, linking to work items. Quality Manager handles testing, integrating with RTC for defect tracking.
Implementation uses Eclipse with RTC plugins for code management, supporting SVN/Git via bridges. Builds automate via Ant/Jenkins, with traceability to changesets.
Demonstrations showcase scenarios: From story creation to code delivery, highlighting real-time updates and approvals.
Deployment options: On-premise or cloud (JazzHub), with free tiers for small teams/academia.
Integration with Open-Source and Legacy Systems
Jazz embraces open-source: Eclipse foundation, OSLC for extensibility. Migrations from ClearCase/SVN use connectors, preserving history.
Challenges: Cultural shifts toward transparency; tool learning curves. Benefits: Reduced cycle times, improved quality via automated traceability.
Future Directions and Community Engagement
IBM’s openness: Public development on jazz.net, inviting contributions. Academic JazzHub fosters education.
Implications: Enhances enterprise agility, but requires commitment. In global teams, it bridges geographies; for startups, free tools lower barriers.
Jazz exemplifies integrated ALM, driving efficient, collaborative delivery.