Oslo, BizTalk Mapper & Surface – Fjord

I came across a very interesting initiative from Microsoft and thought of blog it. It is about Microsoft's Fjord.

Fjord is the code name for the Microsoft Surface integration pieces to the Modeling commitments of Oslo. BizTalk Mapper, a BizTalk component is the first piece of Oslo to be integrated with Surface.

As Oslo’s one of the key focus is going to be on Modeling, I am expecting the orchestration designer can also be integrated with the Microsoft’s surface(lets see). For expression or for the editor requirement, they may come up with Tablet-PC kind of the keyboard in Surface for Orchestration. More surprises and wonders can be expected as part of Oslo.

Fjord – The code name for BizTalk mapper’s integration with Surface. As fjord means a long, narrow bay with steep sides from the top region of the mountains to the sea, the source schema and destination schema on the two sides on the functoids in the BizTalk Map could have resembled as mountains in the two side of the sea. Aptly named.

And another interesting fact about the Microsoft’s Fjord and Mother Nature’s fjord is Norway has got many deep fjords. Again I donn know why Microsoft’s Oslo is more linked with Norway (Norway’s capital is Oslo).

Reference:

http://www.biztalkgurus.com/blogs/biztalksyn/archive/2007/11/29/project-fjord-biztalk-mapper-to-require-surface-in-oslo.aspx

Microsoft OSLO.

OSLO is a codename for the Microsoft’s technical strategy which would provide the platform and tools to make and manage the cross boundaries integrated enterprise applications easily. When they mean easier, they mean by

• Reducing the development code be 10xth portion and hence 10X increase in productivity.
• And by hosting the services online, integration and the maintenance of these applications could be made simpler.

(I donn why Microsoft code-named their technical strategy for their next version of SOA after Norway’s capital)

Oslo is a initiative from Microsoft’s CSD – Connected Systems Division., CSD is where service-oriented application platform components of Microsoft like BizTalk Server, WCF, WF, messaging and queuing products, and much of the identity and authorization services, such as Windows CardSpace are created.

Microsoft has targeted to print its footprint on SOA by heavily investing in the five primary areas like Framework, Server, Services, Tools and Repository. And in these areas the strategy would be focused mainly on two key elements: Model driven and Service Based.

Model-Driven:

Microsoft is building a general-purpose modelling language, tools and repository to bridge all the models within an application, moving models to the centre of application development. So they have planned to create a modelling tool which bring the gap existing between the various modelling methodologies used by business analyst, architects, developers and non-it professionals who provide requirements to IT. We would be the more mature universal modelling editor.

Service-Based:

Continue to build on our service-oriented architecture (SOA) platform spanning client, server and cloud. BizTalk Services "1", which will feature messaging, identity and workflow for hosting composite applications

The first version of “Oslo” will be delivered through the next versions of our application platform products such as those code-named Microsoft Visual Studio “10,” Microsoft System Center “5,” BizTalk Server “6,” BizTalk Services “1” and Microsoft .NET Framework “4.”

In short Oslo would enable us to simplify modelling, developing, maintenance of enterprises integrated applications.

References:

Microsoft Oslo: http://www.microsoft.com/soa/products/oslo.aspx

Whats Oslo: http://blogs.msdn.com/asmitaw/archive/2007/12/27/whats-oslo.aspx

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