Ted Goddard

The network effect is the impetus behind today's software platforms, but a balance must be struck between homogeneous vulnerability and fractured inefficiency. Comparing J2EE to .NET shows clear advantages for J2EE through vendor diversity, portability, standardization community, educational opportunity, language commonality, and security. .NET's attempt to replicate J2EE is shallow, providing technological similarity in a disconnected and proprietary package. Broadly speaking, the network effect is the growth experienced by networks due to the feedback loop induced by the increasing value of joining a growing network. Consider fax technology. It has been successful because the network of fax machines, connected by the telephone system, communicates reliably - thanks to a common standard. The adoption of fax machines showed runaway growth because, in a sense, the v... (more)

Is Web 2.0 Possible with Existing Open Source Technologies?

If you Google "AJAX Web 2.0" you'll get over eight million hits, but what technologies will you find in that mix that can truly deliver on the promises of Web 2.0 today? While there's no single definition of Web 2.0, at its heart lays the Internet acting as a platform for social networks, where information can be created and shared in a community of interest. Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) relate to Web 2.0 concepts only in that they enhance the platform by providing a more effective user interface. AJAX relates to Web 2.0 only in that it provides a lightweight approach for de... (more)