During Exchange 2006 in Vegas there were numerous discussions regarding the need for collaboration amongst partners building applications with Progress Dynamics. This is the perfect place for such discussions and collaboration so I just wanted to post a message to promote the use of this forum for such purposes.
Regards
Anthony Swindells, Fellow, Progress Software
plus Chief Architect for Progress Dynamics
The purpose of this email/post is to poll Dynamics users to find out what level of interest there is in forming a group to continually advance and improve Dynamics, beyond what is currently offered by Progress Software. You could view it as something like a return to the original POSSE idea, although one driven by the users themselves. This is not a Progress initiative, although we would like to get their attention and synchronize our efforts with them.
Initially we would like to receive enhancements made to the framework by users in the field, QC and rework them where required, and issue these extensions as an add-on for general use by the community - an "Extreme Dynamics" (think of the 'M'-class BMW or AMG Mercedes, if you will, both of which started as after-market enhancements to the base product).
Beyond that, we need to find out how many users are out there, and how willing they are to share their extensions with other members of the group, and what level of interest there is to contribute and participate on an on-going basis. One of the main benefits of sharing customizations and extensions to the framework is that it reduces the need for new and existing Dynamics users to "re-invent the wheel" when trying to accomplish both simple and more complex things that go beyond the standard functionality in the framework.
Until we receive your responses, we wont know things like how best to position ourselves with Progress, where to host this activity, or how far we can really take the idea. We have had some thoughts and discussions already on several of these topics such as delivery mechanisms (e.g. using RTB partner sites like the core of Dynamics is provided at the moment) and trying to maintain a "standard" build of an extended Dynamics environment. But we would like to get some input from the community on the interest in something like this before starting discussions with too much detail.
If you are interested in being involved in a discussion about this and hopefully also in actively participating, please respond with the following information:
Your Name
Company
Address
phone
What level you are willing to participate?
0. Please leave me out, as I have no interest
1. We would download and evaluate the extensions for our own use - thanks for the freebies!
2. Contribute code/extensions that we have found useful in the field (attachments are welcome even at this early stage!)
3. Participate in directions planning for new enhancement initiatives
4. Develop, QC, and/or review new contributions
- also any constructive ideas or comments you may have are solicited as well.
We will follow up soon after we receive the results from the poll, to those who respond positively, with next steps. For those of you attending the Progress PTW 2006 in Athens in September, we hope to have an opportunity to discuss this in more detail with those of you who are interested in this initiative.
We look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Please respond to mailto:tomg@degama.com .
Regards,
Tom Greenwood
President
Degama Systems Inc.
GTA Progress Users Group
Office 416-493-0059 x107
Mobile 416-347-7930
E-mail mailto:tomg@degama.com
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Thomas Hansen
Technical and Services Director
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Tel.: +45 98 90 49 16
Fax.: +45 98 90 49 17
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E-mail : thomas@app-solutions.com
Web : www.app-solutions.com
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