Strategy
August 16th, 2012
What makes a good web service API?
On the face of it, the demands of a good web service interface are pretty much the same as for any other API. You just need to make it useful, reliable, easy to use and fast. However, public-facing APIs are forever so it’s vital that you get it right the first time.
June 19th, 2012
The Umbraco 5 debacle proves that even a free CMS needs effective governance
Having to pull the plug on a new version of your product is unfortunate. Scrapping it months after it’s been released is just plain careless.
April 11th, 2012
The code reuse myth: why internal software reuse initiatives tend to fail
Despite all the best intentions, software reuse tends to be confined to third party frameworks and tools rather than being an integral part of the development process. Are we expecting too much from software reuse and should we learn to set our sights a little lower?
March 18th, 2012
EPiServer vs Sitecore – Comparing .NET CMS platforms
EPiServer and Sitecore are direct competitors in the middle-tier CMS market and on the surface they appear to do pretty much the same thing. You need to dig quite deep to draw out a useful comparison.
February 15th, 2012
Is web experience management a realistic ambition?
Many web content management systems are seeking to become all-encompassing “platforms” that can manage a rich and interactive user experience across multiple channels. Is this ambition realistic or even desirable?
November 27th, 2011
Who owns your Twitter followers? Who are they really following?
A man is being taken to court by his ex-employers in America for keeping the Twitter followers that he accumulated while working for them. This is not the first time that arguments over the ownership of social media contacts have ended up in the courts.
August 19th, 2011
What value does Gartner’s Magic Quadrant bring to a WCMS selection?
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant is frequently used as a reference point when evaluating WCMS platforms. Although the report may provide a strategic overview of a particular slice of the WCMS market, it does little to shed light on the real issues that underpin a WCMS selection.
May 8th, 2011
The EU “Cookie law” is still unclear, despite UK Government advice
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has finally released some advice on how to interpret the EC’s new cookie laws. Despite the continued lack of clarity, it does look like there will have to be some improvements in the way we communicate how websites work to the people that use them.
April 21st, 2011
Neither neither “web” nor “mobile” but “multi-screen”…
Have we reached a tipping point where mobile devices will replace the web, or are we just moving into a “multi-screen” future of increasingly diverse devices and contexts?
April 7th, 2011
Mobile myths: Development process and mobile apps
When it comes to development process, why should “mobile” development be treated any differently? After all, it’s all computer software.
August 11th, 2010
Does a scoring methodology help or hinder CMS selection?
Scoring methodologies are often used in CMS procurement to provide transparency, but in reality they don’t offer much more than the illusion of a structured process.
January 14th, 2010
Forget the Kindle and iPad: Paper remains a superior technology
Despite the predictions that Apple’s tablet computer will be a game-changer I wouldn’t be writing off paper-based media for a while yet…
November 29th, 2009
What’s wrong with the Digital Economy Bill?
The intention of the Digital Economy Bill is a noble one. However, it’s been undermined by a lack of ambition, vague definition and muddled thinking.
October 7th, 2009
Lies, damned lies and Adobe’s penetration statistics for Flash
Another quarter, another set of statistics from Adobe claiming “worldwide ubiquity” for the Flash plug-in. As with many vendor-commissioned surveys, the results of the Flash penetration survey are based on a truth that is spun out to an absurd degree.
June 30th, 2009
Developing mobile applications in a fragmented market
Developing applications for a mobile phone is a nightmare – which of the five or six competing application platforms should you use?