[oslc] Consuming OSLC resources from multiple providers--how to do cross-provider links?

Andrew J Berner ajberner at us.ibm.com
Fri Feb 26 09:15:34 EST 2010


Much of the OSLC value comes from "swapping out" providers--if I consume
the OSLC interface, I can use any CM tool that provides the interface.  But
what thinking has been done around simultaneously consuming multiple
providers?  Here's a few examples:

a) A large project has multiple component development groups.  The
requirements for the project are managed in a single place, but some
component groups use RTC for defects, some use Rational ClearQuest, and
some use Rational Change (or add any other OSLC CM provider)....Since a
requirement can span components, how does the requirements tool link to all
the defects against that requirement from these various providers?

b) An organization has an independent product testing group.  Each product
development group has its own test group internally, but before a product
can be released, it must be passed on by the independent group.  A
development group has a test plan in one QM OSLC provider, and the
independent group has a test plan in a different provider's tool.  How can
the project manager know the status of the full testing effort across both
tools?

c) A complex project has multiple subcomponents that are different enough
that they require different estimation models.  So there are estimates from
multiple OSLC providers for parts of the project.  How can the project
management tool "see" those estimates from different providers?

d) A worker is working on multiple projects, and gets task information from
multiple tools.  How can all those tasks be organized in a single place?
(this should sound familiar!)

It will always be the case that an organization's tool infrastructure
requires one tool to "know about" multiple providers of the same OSLC
resource types.  Do we have any thinking in general of how that should be
handled?

Andy Berner
Lead Architect, ISV Technical Enablement and Strategy
IBM Rational Business Development
972 561-6599
ajberner at us.ibm.com

Ready for IBM Rational software partner program -
http://www.ibm.com/isv/rational/readyfor.html





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