Thalasar Ventures

Application Lifecycle Management is the process of developing software to meet business objectives. A set of disciplines enables the process to meet the ongoing challenges and requirements of the business. Those disciplines include requirements management, build management, modeling and simulation, issue and defect management and deployment management.

To meet the demands of the changing environment of the business realm, the integration of tools is mandatory. It helps administer a cohesive and comprehensive process, facilitating the ALM process to move further. Tools integration is a complex procedure, and understanding its nuances can help overcome any obstacles. Tools integration, if viewed from the perspective of the process needs, can become an achievable goal.

Since ALM requires several tools, working in solitary confinement will make the process a failure. Taking a set of tools and putting them together will not satisfy the requirements of the integration process either, but will only provide a temporary solution. An effective tools integration process can only exist if the tools are designed to collaborate in unison.

Integration can take place in two ways – vertical and horizontal. Vertical integration deals with tools that gather and provide data as well tools with data mining capabilities. Horizontal integration is concerned with management information integration. Tools integration is possible with a centralized repository and an integrating user interface in which upgraded tools can also be integrated without complications.

Common Repository

There is a need for a common framework that can combine the efforts of all the tools to produce a holistic result. A single platform that deals with several applications, with the help of a set of parameters, manifests in positive integration. When a common repository is set up to handle the traceability and cross-life-cycle reporting, it helps reduce all the complexities. There is a single process that specifies traceability links and manages the workflow in a common way.

User Interface

To handle an ALM process, an easy interface helps with navigation and drives the process forward. A rigid and complex user interface will hinder the execution process and provide no benefits at all. A flexible user interface will help the user customize solutions and adjust it according to the demands of the business. The interface has to facilitate improvements to incorporate changes and help operations move smoothly.

Application life cycle management will only be successful when there is an efficient tools integration system in place. ALM is largely dependent upon tools to facilitate the process, and carrying out the process is not possible without integration. A lone process is not credibly sufficient to meet the business goals. Thus having an understanding of the process, setting up a common repository and an integrated user interface provides an ideal condition for the ALM process.