Did not get a chance to blog yesterday. Pretty full day at the final day of SPARK on Sunday, in bed by 11:00 and up at 5:00 AM to catch my flight, which was late by the way. As you may remember the goal of SPARK was to think about, if not actually define the next generation architectures considering the influences of Web 2.0, SOA, and SaaS.

We worked on a few things including attempting to model what the next generation architecture will look like. Pretty interesting exercise, but all of the groups had very different views. You can see the photos of this meeting here. Note that Microsoft put no restrictions on what information gets out of that meeting, they were very good hosts and there was no selling during either day.

The building of the models was a bit chaotic. I was teamed with Phil Wainewright from Looselycoupled.com and Steve from Disney. Phil suggested we leverage his Web 3.0 model. It's very simple, and as good as any, working up from services, to aggregators, to applications. Note that as you rise up through the stack, the more expensive the layer. I would have added a few more things, but I think the model was close enough, and its simplicity is actually its power. I've never seen complex models work, at least in the projects I've been involved with.

The other models took very different and much more complex approaches, take a look at the results here. Not sure I could find common patterns, but everyone agreed that the next generation architectures using SOA and Web 2.0 notions were going to have the following basic characteristics:

1. The user is empowered to create and own dynamic content.
2. The lines are blurring between enterprise architecture and the next generation Web.
3. The Web is more changing and dynamic than the enterprise.
4. Composite applications, outside service consumption, and mashups are here and are going to accelerate.

The best part about this event was to catch up with friends, such as Dion, Anne, Gregor, and Phil. Also, finally got to meet Graham, and Steve, as well as the other 15 or so people, including a few from Microsoft, and the CTO of Myspace.com Aber Whitcomb.

So, would I do this again if invited? Sure. I was impressed by Microsoft's openness and willingness to hear all sorts of opinions. That's not the Microsoft I remember...good for them. Clearly they are attempting to figure this out, along with the rest of us. I wish I could have stayed for Mix, which was occurring today through Wednesday, but I have a company to run now.

For further information on SPARK check out these blogs, and my Podcast.

Posted by Dave Linthicum on March 20, 2006 05:08 PM