The problems that face release management

Source : http://tlconsulting.blinkweb.com/1/2012/07/the-problems-that-face-release-management-6798b/

In order for release management to succeed and achieve the expected results it has to begin with analyzing the problems then propose different solutions and finally to apply tremendous effort implementing these solutions. There are several problems that face any company or an IT firm that tries to implement it.  The first one that causes a lot of confusion is defining and understanding what are the things that fall under the control of release management. This is why the first step is stating and defining what is under the control of change control and what is not.

For example, for an IT business the things that would be under the management of release management will include several things. These things include anything that is related to network configurations and any changes with the production computing environment of the data center. This includes application software changes that are asked by the customer or the IT team. It also included any upgrades that need to be implemented to the infrastructure of the server or the network which includes DBMS, hardware and OS among others. As for the things that were not included. It was the needed application fixes for the emergency production software. Any emergency fixes should be the responsibility of the software developer team and its manager and not the responsibility of the release manager.

The second issue is to know who is responsible for what parts of the project. The projects are always managed from the start to the end by project managers. The problem is at any big organization, any four project managers would have from two to five projects under their control. These projects include fixing bugs and client service change among other things. This is why each project manager has to know his own tasks and to recognize the tasks of the stakeholders. Release management will succeed if the release manager himself known his tasks which will then be conveyed to the different stakeholders who will then recognize the scope and the tasks tasked to them.

The solution for this problem is SPOC. SPOC stands for single point of contact. This was a great model to be used in order to follow the responsibility of different team and team members and to hold every one accountable for his responsibility. By using this model, the SPOC, it was easy to follow the progress of each team in order to hold them accountable for their outcome.

Architecture rendering software

Source : http://architecturesoftware.webs.com/apps/blog/show/19218159-architecture-rendering-software

Architecture firms that create and produce interior and exterior designs for different project now rely on rendering services in order to illustrate a full image of the projects’ design to the clients. These interior and exterior 3D rendering services can render elevations, sections, drafting, landscape and model buildings. It can simply render any part of the building to give it a real look in order for it to be presented to the client. It will help the client visualize the project and the architectural design before it is even built. The rendering will include texture finishing materials, architectural elements such as windows doors and cladding among other things. It simply creates a future shot of what the building and the design will look like after it is built.

Architecture rendering allows the designers to view the project to the clients and focus on the vital attributes of the design. This allows them to make any changes to the design and the project according to the needs of the client even before the project is built. The need of rendering services is on the increase because it also helps in cutting down on the expenses. This is why it is being used by contractors, builders, architectural firms among other professionals.

Architecture software that is used in order to produce these rendering models varies between one project type and another. For instance, for interior shots that involves furniture and texture, 3D Studios Max is used. For rendered images that include exterior shots and landscape, most architects use Google Sketch-up. For organic shaped designs, most architects use Maya software. Other famous architectural software that is used in rendering 3D models includes AutoDesk Revit and AutoDesk AutoCad3D among others. So to sum it up, rendering services play a vital role in any architectural design for any project.

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The importance of architecture rendering

Source : http://amazingworlds.webnode.com/news/the-importance-of-architecture-rendering/

Architecture and rendering are entwined these days because almost all architectural designs are accompanied by rendered images of the design. This is why the architecture industry has become heavily dependable on rendering services that are offered by various companies. Rendering is the best way to provide the clients with the perfect illustration of the project’s design and this is why it can be considered as one of the vital aspects of any project’s design. This is why if you are an engineer or an architect, you will have to use rendering services during the project because it is an important phase that the design has to go through.

Architecture rendering can be explained and described as 2D images that illustrate the most viral attributes of any architectural design. It shows the client what the project will look like after it is built from the inside and the outside. This way it shows the exterior and the interior architectural designs even before they are built. This is why a lot of companies offer architectural rendering services. These services are used by contractors, builders and architects. Each professional would use it for specific reasons.

Architecture rendering does not only produce two dimensioned images because it can be used to illustrate the whole project in a three dimension manner to take the client through it. It is called a 3D Walkthrough or 3D Flythrough. This form of rendering does not focus on one shot or one spot of the design but it creates a complete model of the entire design and enables the client to look anywhere in the design. This form of rendering is only used by the biggest architectural firms because it is of high quality and it is expensive. This rendering will include texture, finishing, building components, doors and windows among other architectural elements.

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Different architecture services

Architecture is a very artistic process that needs vast knowledge. In order to get the best architectural design from the inside and the outside, you have to know how to use different architectural programs, software and services. In this day and age, no architectural design can be made without the help and the use of these programs and services. One of the most vital and important services is using 3D models. 3D modeling allows you to have a general view of your building’s exterior and interior design on the computer. To know more about 3D modeling, you should keep reading.

Architecture and design are greatly improved due to the technology available these days. As mentioned above, the usage of 3D Modeling is being used for many purposes. For instance, it allows the client to visualize the interior look and the exterior of the building before it is even built. This includes 3D product and furniture modeling. 3D Modeling has become one of the vital pillars and the backbone of architectural and ID firms.

Architecture also requires panoramic views of the inside of the design. This is why 3D architectural rendering is used in order to create 360 degree panoramic views using 3D rendering. It also helps the architect to make any changes inside of the design according to the requirements of the client. Not only that, as architects can also use animation in order to make an animated video of the design. It is called a 3D Flythrough or 3D Walkthrough. Last but not least, there is the Revit service. Revit is one of the most advanced architectural programs on the market. It allows the architect to work on all three dimensions at the same time because it is BIM based software. This way the architect can work on the vertical plan, the elevation, section and the 3D model at the same time.

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The true meaning of architecture

Architecture is a complicated process. It includes implementing a specific concept when it comes to the design and the structure of the building itself alongside different forms and building materials. The architect who designs the houses has to deal with the residential building and design it from the inside and the outside. This is due to the fact that when the design goes against the human needs and the cultural guidelines, the results are horrendous. For instance, the cities that are filled with uniform square-box shaped buildings such as office buildings and identical residential buildings.

Architecture is a language. This language covers all aspects of the buildings because the design of a building includes the vertical plan of the building, the design of the outer elevation of the building, the scale, the ratio, the proportions and the section that shows the inside of the buildings and the different constructive structures that are used in it. Despite the fact that architecture is studied in Fine Arts colleges and a lot of people consider it as a form of art but the fact remains that any architectural design uses mathematical equations and accurate numbers in order to produce a successful design.

Architecture in the Romanesque period was identified in massive, simple and strong forms that developed and graduated into the piers and the ribs of the eleventh century. This form then developed to the gothic form that was present in the thirteenth century. This makes it clear that architecture is an ever developing language that changes from one century to another. This is due to the fact that the design differs from age to age according to the cultural, historical and environmental constraint. More examples include the revival of the Gothic and Classical forms in the nineteenth century and the technology inspired forms in the twentieth century.

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The history of Architecture in America

Architecture is the process of designing buildings according to the surrounding environment, the social, historical and cultural constraints that exist at the time of the design. Due to the mixture of various styles and social surrounding that affected the American architecture, today’s result is very complicated as it is the culmination of various styles, traditions and cultural effects.

Architecture in America started when the settlers from Europe came and noticed that the Native Indian Americans had their own set of techniques and traditions when it came to designing their homes and buildings. For instance, their architecture vocabulary contained things like pueblos, longhouses and tipi. The European settlers did not follow the same style and traditions and they followed their own set of techniques and architectural concepts that existed in their homeland.

Architecture in the middle of the nineteenth century witnessed the revival of the Gothic and Grecian styles of the Romantic time period. The middle of this century is also considered the period that witnessed the urbanization of land and the designing of lodgings, row houses and of course, the architectural innovation of that time, the tall skyscrapers that reach the clouds. The first ever skyscraper to be built was located in Chicago. It was built back in 1884. The architect who designed these long towers was Louis Sullivan. One of his most known and talented prodigies is none other than Frank Lloyd Wright who is considered one of the best and the most talented architects in the world.  In the early 30s, architecture in America suffered a grand shift into what is called an International Design. This occurred following the emigration of architects from the European countries to America before World War II. Following the war, a sudden change in the architectural designs occurred as skyscrapers started to become longer and reached great heights and buildings started to be covered with new colors and motifs.

What you need to know about Software architecture

At the end of the 60s, the programmers came out with a philosophy that is related to developing software. The concept stated that if the data structures are correct and stable and by applying effort, the development of the program will go very smoothly without any problems. Back in the 60s is was only an intuition and a philosophical concept but in the 1970s it was transformed from just a concept into a theory. The transformation of this concept to a real theory included the grasping and understanding of several points.

These points included the structure of the architecture software and the specifications. These specifications were expressed through math as algebraic axioms or abstract models. The understanding of language problems was also vital. It included user-defined types, scope and modules. Another major point that had to be understood is the protection of the information. This includes all kinds of information and not only the ones that are a part of the specifications. This is very essential as the protection of this information is vital to the success of any software development.

The target of this transformation was to enhance the quality of the architecture design of several parts of the software. This included the enhancing of abstract data types in order to surpass the level of the programming language or statements. In order to achieve that, the understanding of the above mentioned points were accompanied by integrating specifications, representations, functional interfaces and algorithms in uniform methods. In order for the architecture design to succeed, the programming language had to be used but the abstract data type paradigm gave some pieces of the system the ability to be developed using a vocabulary of data types that is not included in the programming language’s vocabulary.

The same ways programmers recognized the usage of strong and correct data structure back in the 60s, now experienced software developers recognize strong system organizations. Although many organizations and architecture software designers depend on abstract data types but this is not the only available method to organize a software system. This is due to the fact that other designers and developers have developed various organizations over the course of time. These organizations have become a solid part of the vocabulary of the language that software designers use. So as a software developer you have the choice to either choose these new organizations or the usual abstract data types.

Architecture principles for different businesses

If you are in a position where you have to architect enterprises and different business applications where you have to use different COTS products & come out with architecture solutions around these products. Then you should follow these easy and simple principles that would help you architect different solutions for your business. The first rule is to keep everything stupid and simple. You should not use complex and complicated words or terms that would make the readers scratch their heads. Some people think that the more complicated the more professional which is terribly wrong because if the readers do not understand it then it is of no use. So make sure to keep everything clear and a simple for the stakeholders whether its IT, Infra Team or Business.

The second principal is communication. Maintaining a strong network of communication of architecture to the whole team is essential and vital to the success of your solutions. This includes both external & internal stakeholder’s teams. Your side includes the development, deployment, testing and PMO teams. As for the other side, the client’s side it includes IT, security and business. Connecting all of the above teams together is one of the ingredients of success.

The third principal is the flexibility in the requirements. You have to be prepared and ready to accept changes that might occur. This is essential because as much as we would like for everything to stay the same but things change. For instance the requirements that always change include HTML appearance, the layout of the content and so on. On the other hand there are requirements that never change such as auditing, messaging and logging. This is why in order for your architecture solutions to work, it has to be flexible and for you to accept changes. Not only to accept them but to be prepared for them and to expect them.

Lastly, in any given architecture project and design, decisions will have to be made. People tend not to take decisions in order to avoid the risk of being wrong. The best thing to do is to take a look at the data and information available and to take decisions according to them for the project to move along. Even if you are wrong, the project and the design will move on. Plus, you gave your best decision according to the available data. So you did the best you can with what you had.

The difference between architecture & engineering

The question that has kept all the art historians and philosophers wondering and yet failed to find a clear and a specific answer, “what is architecture?” Not only them, as many of us find themselves wondering the same thing. It can be explained as any piece of work that has some sort of substance that has acquired a physical state. Any work that has the mentioned characteristics would pass as being architecture.

Whenever an architect starts his project, his main goal is to capture and realize a dream that he has in his mind. Every architectural design is aiming to achieve a concept or a goal that is set by the architect himself. This dream or goal can be a form, a function or a philosophy. An architect uses all of his past experiences and collective knowledge to achieve all of that, the end result of it all is what architecture means.

Some people mix between architecture and engineering. They think that they are the same because they both result in buildings and construction. They cannot be any more wrong. There is a very thin line between architecture and engineering. Engineering is the act of eliminating any kind of emotions or feelings while designing, this result in an emotionless design that is very objective and has the function as its first and only priority. On the other hand architecture is the absolute opposite of that as it is all based around the emotions, feelings and dreams of the designer and architect. The end result of a design made by an architect would be the result of all of his emotions and feelings. This is why the design is not revolved around the objectivity which is the function but rather around the emotions and dreams.

To sum it up, the difference between engineering & architecture lies in the emotional force and philosophical concept of the architect that is embedded into the design. For instance, reading a script of an opera and reading it objectivity from the paper differs completely from hearing it and seeing it being performed on stage. You will certainly feel a rush of emotions and feelings when watching it and you will not get that feeling if you are just reading the notes and the script objectively from the paper. This is why architecture is looked upon as a piece of art and as any piece of art, it has to be filled with emotions and as far as it can be from subjectivity.

Architecture