WebCenter Sites 11.1.1.6 released

WebCenter Sites 11gR1 (11.1.1.6.0) released and available for download http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/webcenter/sites/downloads/index.html 

This is the first Oracle-branded release since the FatWire acquisition last year.

WebCenter blog new features article
https://blogs.oracle.com/webcenter/entry/what_s_new_in_webcenter

Jake @ AppsLab has written a short intro with links to extra info, find it here http://theappslab.com/2012/05/01/oracle-webcenter-sites-11gr1-released/?sf4101076=1

Women in social media (infographics)

Not actually any breaking news but collecting some statistics from recent years:
Women contribute to majority of social media usage, except LinkedIn.

55% of social media users are women, while the figure is 80% for Pinterest - from thesocialskinny.com March 2012 social media statistics.

Social media sites gender distribution by survey released in 2011 by the Pew Internet and American Life Project:

Women's social media usage infographics in 2010 by Ethan Bloch of Flowtown:

Sources:
thesocialskinny.com/100-social-media-mobile-and-internet-statistics-for-2012/
smedio.com/2011/06/22/women-are-taking-over-the-social-web/
www.pamorama.net/2010/07/12/how-women-use-social-media-infographic/

Spring runs

Life and The Universe has been absent so far, so..

I bought new Asics Kayano 18 running shoes from teh internets www.sport-redler.de and signed up for 18km Länsiväyläjuoksu next weekend and 25km High Tech Run on June 7th.

Oops, time to stop eating those Easter eggs and start practicing.

WebLogic Server 12c available

WebLogic Server 12c (12.1.1) zip distribution and installers now available for download from OTN:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/fusion-middleware/downloads/index.html

Development tooling for WLS12c is available as well: Enterprise Pack for Eclipse (12.1.1.0):
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/eclipse/downloads/oepe-1211-beta-1357594.html
OEPE installation instructions here:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E15315_09/help/oracle.eclipse.tools.common.doc/html/install.html

WebLogic Server 12c launched

A quick summary of WebLogic 12c launch today

WebLogic Server 12c - version 12.1.1 was officially launched today. The plan is it will be downloadable on OTN next week.

WLS 12c is certified on Java Enterprise Edition 6, Full Profile meaning all the latest JEE6 standards and development improvements. WLS12c supports both Java SE 6 and SE 7.

In addition lot of architecture improvements (200+), to name a few:
*Improved Maven support
*Spring 3.0.x support
*Improved RAC support
*Improved Coherence support (integrated session replication and inbuilt admin tools)
*Built in Class Loading Analysis tool to analyze class loading and library conflicts
*Built in WLS diagnostic framework and JVM Flight Recorder (JRockit VM)
*Both JRockit and HotSpot JVM support
*Built in security optimizations (SSL,TLS)
*FastSwap for in-flight redeployment of classes without JVM restart or session changes to speed up deploy/debug cycle
*Support for GlassFish Deployment Descriptors to provide smooth migration from our OpenSource GlassFish application server to WebLogic Server platform

The c in 12c is for the Cloud, and lot of things are happening there, like using Oracle Virtual Assembly Builder to package WLS multitier installations into virtual appliances and redeploy them for deployment (OVAB is separately licensed product).

There is a new lightweight zip distribution, 168mb file without installer - just download, unzip and you are all set for JEE6 development.


Other FMW 12c products (SOA, WebCenter) will be available later Calendar Year 2012 on future release WLS 12.1.x

Eclipse 3.7 with Oracle Enterprise Pack for Eclipse 11.1.1.8 and NetBeans 7.1 support WLS 12c development right away. JDeveloper release supporting WLS 12c expected later in Calendar Year 2012.

There will be also WLS 11g patch set 5 - version 10.1.3.6 release soon. This is an update of the 11g not to be confused with 12c.

Recorded material from the launch webcast is available at www.oracle.com/goto/weblogicserver12c

WebLogic Server resources:
twitter.com/oracleweblogic
facebook.com/oracleweblogic
blogs.oracle.com/weblogicserver
youtube.com/oracleweblogic
Developer Webcast Series: oracle.com/goto/weblogicdevcast


Disclaimer: All information as it has been announced in public broadcast(s), as usual Oracle reserves the right to change any timing and deliverables

Creating Webcenter 11g PS4 Managed Server for EDG setup

1. Create Webcenter schemas for your custom Webcenter Portal with RCU utility
Custom portal will look for MDS, WEBCENTER and ACTIVITIES schemas. Best practice is to create them all specific for your custom portal.

2. Register your custom MDS schema through Fusion Middleware Control

3. Run WebCenter_ORACLE_HOME/common/bin/config.sh and extend your domain with template WebCenter_ORACLE_HOME/common/templates/applications/oracle.wc_custom_portal_template_11.1.1.jar

3.1 Extend the domain in "home domain setup folder", i.e. the aserver path

3.2. Configure your custom schema datasources.

3.3. Configure Managed Servers, Clusters and Deployment targets according to your HA setup.

4. Pack your domain into template from aserver path on installation machine.

5. Unpack template and propagate domain settings into mserver path on all domain machines.

If you are unsure how to do steps 3-5 look into Enterprise Deployment Guide, especially chapter 6 and adapt the procedure to Custom Webcenter managed server and your environment.


Document references:

Chapter 7 Deploying WebCenter Applications in Administrator's Guide for Oracle WebCenter, http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/webcenter.1111/e12405/wcadm_deploy.htm#BABBAHHJ
and 3.1.8.2 Extending the Domain to Create Custom Managed Servers in Installation Guide for Oracle WebCenter, http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/install.1111/e12001/config.htm#CBDEIJJI,
Chapter 6 Extending the Domain for WebCenter Components in Enterprise Deployment Guide for Oracle WebCenter, http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E21764_01/core.1111/e12037/extend_wc.htm#CACDEGGH

Agile in Enterprise

Brief comment on Agile vs. Enterprise, being an Agile fan and Certified ScrumMaster working in a huge organization (mostly from Scrum point of view):

The IT Skeptic wrote

"Both Agile and Lean seem based on a rosy view of human behaviour that many in IT Ops would regard as naive.

The concept of small teams seems to be predicated on Renaissance Man, the miracle polymath who can fulfill multiple roles and leap tall buildings; who is seemingly skilled at most things, and interested in everything else. Human progress can be put down in large part to specialisation, and Agile seems to want to put that into reverse. Developers who understand operations; wild creative types who respect risk mitigation; project managers who are relaxed about changing deliverables; programmers who are good at supporting and training end users; system geeks whom can focus on business value; hackers who document."

Then on other hand take Daniel Pink's great TEDTalk where he nails down with scientific research how only intrinsic motivators - autonomy, mastery and purpose - drive knowledge workers for better performance solving complex problems: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html


I think Skeptic is totally right - and totally wrong. It's all about applying right methods in right places. As Pink points out traditional ways of working with extrinsic motivators kick ass for Simple Problems and running a production system is such - mostly. It's not about coming with great new ideas so it's not necessarily an optimal place for Agile. Agile needs autonomy and if your environment cannot cope with it, don't do Agile. Agile, and Scrum especially work best for time limited projects developing new solutions, where autonomy can be allowed.

Besides, lot of IT projects nowadays are actually taking off-the-shelf products and then customizing them (as little as possible) to meet customer requirements. Agile works excellent for this kind of project needing prototyping and then finding best balance in the traditional time, cost, features -triangle.

Skeptic's disbelief in finding those Renaissance Men people for Agile projects is partly sound. They are hard to find, and having a team of them is dream scenario. But Agile is Agile, it can and should be adapted to situation and limitations every time. If team is not self-driven, take more control. If it's not multi-talented, make sure to fill the gaps with extra resources. Also when money is involved there will (or at least should) be some stakeholder control, project and budget management frameworks one needs to adapt to etc. Pure Agile is actually rare, trade-offs must be made in Enterprise world. This puts lots of responsibility on the shoulders of Agile coach (ScrumMaster), who should be able to handle and adapt to the situation. In the end his/her professional skills can make or break the project.

Then on the other hand there's too much Agile abuse. IT industry is in love with Scrum and every project must be Scrum now - too often without proper knowledge, consideration and real empowerment for the team. Project doesn't become Agile by calling it Scrum and having stand-up meetings every now and then. Seeing people stating day after day same status reports (i.e. "I haven't done anything"), hearing "We don't write documentation, we are Agile" while calling it Test-Driven Development without anybody actually testing anything is far too common.

ScrumMasters, take pride in making Agile work.


Wikipedia on Motivation