API catalogues

30 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in General, Oracle, Technology

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API, catalog, catalogue, management, Oracle

I have been looking at API catalogue tools to help facilitate reuse particularly given we use a lot of 3rd party vendors and System Integrators where having a tool that can be used to easily pickup integration points. We don’t monetise the interfaces but having a means to harvest the interfaces and generate documentation that can be published.

It is interesting that a lot of the tooling requires manual loading of the interface information and focuses on monetisation and security (Apigee, 3Scale etc). Oracle provides these capabilities through the API Management product. But the API catalogue offers the documentation, publication and critically the harvesting capabilities. The only downside is the API Catalogue can only describe SOAP and REST interfaces today. It would be great to be able to describe other interfaces such as XML over JMS as well. The one advantage that 3Scale and Apigee have at present is the fact they are cloud solutions, Oracle’s API tools are presently not offered as discreet solutions, that said I’d not bet against Oracle launching API Management and API Catalogue as cloud services.

Oracle & Xamarin Hookup

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in General, Oracle, Technology

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"mobile cloud service", Cloud, MAF, MBaaS, MCS, mobile, Oracle, Xamarin

When I first heard about the Oracle & Xamarin tie up to support Oracle’s Mobile Cloud Service – MCS(to use one of those xaaS acronyms we’re talking MBaaS – Mobile Backend aaS) I was little surprised and puzzled as for any Java/Javascript developer Oracle already their Mobile Application Framework which includes Apache Cordova and some Xamarin style cross compiling for native capabilities for Java.

It’s when you look at information such as that provided by DeveloperEconomics.com some sense becomes apparent. Oracle aren’t so much as abandoning MAF as trying to create conditions where all roads lead to MCS as the 2 most popular cross platform/x-compile mobile frameworks which represent 75% or more of the framework usage. It is also likely (but I speculate here) that providing an Xamarin API and SDK probably isn’t that significant an investment given all of it has been built to support MAF already.

As late comers to the cloud service market, his sort of approach stands to increase Oracle’s potential to gain market share. The fact that they have got Xamarin onboard and the commitment (regardless of how easy it may have been to leverage existing work) Oracle’s decision to seek global domination in PaaS and SaaS markets. For this to pay off though Oracle need to shed the image of its only for the big boys with deep pockets.

Some helpful other resource:

free MAF training and YouTube resources
Xamarin development guides

Packt go free with Oracle again for next 24 hours

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in Books, Oracle, Packt

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11g, ebook, free, ODI, Oracle, Packt, Packt Publishing

Packt have made another Oracle book available for free today as part of their Free Learning initiative. For the next 24 hours you can get a book on Oracle Data Integrator 11g Cookbook from https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-learning

ITSO Mind Mapped

24 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in mindmap, Technology, xxRetired

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ITSO, mindmap, Oracle, strategy

As I Work my way through the ITSO (IT Strategies from Oracle) material I’ve been building out a mind map of the details which I’ve made available.

I will also make the mind map available through XMind – https://app.wisemapping.com/c/maps/559141/public

Packt Free Learning goes Oracle for 24hours

22 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in Books, General, Oracle, Packt

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hyperion, Oracle, reporting

Packt Publishing have been running a scheme where each day they give away a book. Today is the Business Analyst’s Guide to Oracle Hyperion Interactive Reporting 11.

Just trusting security to VPNs

20 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in General, Technology

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network, Security, VPN

I regularly encounter arguments where people justify relaxed security in a design with the argument of – well the connection between systems will be protected by a VPN (Virtual Private Network) – so everything is fine.

Trying to dissuade a someone like a project manager or business end user that just trusting to just a VPN is challenging, after all private networks are safe aren’t they. So I have tried to identify a few resources – that can simply and clearly explain why this approach alone is not good. Just pointing to the principle of ‘security in depth’ is difficult to sell. So hopefully the following will help:

http://www.sans.org/security-resources/malwarefaq/pptp-vpn.php – not the easiest for non techies to consume but it’s authoritive presentation (not to mention the fact it is the SANs Institute), the last 3 paragraphs of The Basics of Virtual Private Networks is uniquivical and clear.
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/security/intelligence/05_08_SSL-VPN-Security.html#4 provides a brief explination of how man in the middle attacks work on VPNs – very clear hit by this and an attacker has access to your network
http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ssl-vpns-pose-network-security-risks/ – good article which highlights that you dont even need to be directly attacked to be compromised

Packt Java EE with Eclipse 2nd Edition

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by mp3monster in Book Reviews, Books, Packt

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books, ebook, free, Packt, review

Might be a little early for Packt, but I have completed reviewing the 2nd Edition of Java EE with Eclipse for Packt now. So the book should be available in the next couple of months.

On the subject of Packt, the Free Learning scheme they are running continues. I’ve seen a couple of books repair since the start of the promotion. But for main part each day is new and different and covers a wide range of things from JQuery and Node, to Hadoop and into Drupal and WordPress. So worth checking back on a daily basis.

All of this means time to do some more Oracle writing.

Free eBook

15 Saturday Aug 2015

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ebook, oreilly

Designers must understand user needs to create any product. But what type of data should you look at?While we’ve all heard about big data, talk of “thick” data remains scant. Generally speaking, big data is quantitative; it gives you the what, where, and when, while thick data provides the qualitative perspective—the how and the why.

Pamela Pavliscak, founder of design research firm Change Sciences, says you need all the data—both big and thick—to fully understand how users interact with websites, apps, and other products. In her new report, Data-Informed Product Design, she outlines a way to use data of all kinds to understand the relationship between people and technology.

Up until now, there hasn’t been much information on how to combine quantitative big data with qualitative thick data. That’s where this report can help. If you’re involved in any aspect of product design, this is indispensable reading. It’s useful, and we’re pleased to offer it to you, for free!

Get the free ebook now.

New look blog

12 Wednesday Aug 2015

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blog, image, Peter Lik

So we have refreshed the blog a little and added a new shortcut URL https://oracle.mp3monster.org to the Oracle blog entries. The art work is part of a tremendous image of the Sydney Opera House taken by Peter Lik. We would recommend you checkout his stunning work.