What is happening with systems integration? Is Web-based old school?
Stannard: Web-based applications are somewhat old-school and are not really practical for most applications. However, the power of the Web, and the volume of information available on the Web is being increasingly used for systems integration and data acquisition. Web services, such as Google’s Map API, allow C-based applications to access information on the Internet, without sacrificing performance. Best: Web-based is not old school; it will stay with us, even expand. However, integration via XML and other standardized data transfer and integration formats will be the way forward. It will allow data to be read from SQL and other databases, converting them into real-time representations of activity and processes. This will aid process analysis. Can flowcharts serve as a programming interface to business? Stannard: Flowcharts can be used to communicate requirements at a business level, which can then be used by IT to develop detailed design documentation. Best: Any good programmer should
