Abap
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This is the
programming language used by the implementers of Sap’s enterprise application
software.
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Active Directory
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This is
Microsoft’s implementation of LDAP. An Active Directory stores information
relating to an organisation in one database. This allows administrators to
assign user security profiles or deploy software to multiple computers. The
type of information stored in an Active Directory falls into the category of
resource (eg. PC), service (eg. email) and users.
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Active Server Pages
|
Active
Server Pages. A Microsoft technology
used for dynamically developing web pages when requested by the user. When
the user requests say books on martial arts, the web server running ASP
extracts the records that match the criteria from the book database, builds
the web page and sends it back to the user. It makes use of scripting
languages such as VBScript, JScript and PerlScript.
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ActiveX
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A
programming standard created by Microsoft.
It is programming language independent, so you can write Active X
controls in, for example, C++ or Java.
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ActiveX component
|
An Active X
component (or control) is software written to Microsoft’s ActiveX programming
standard.
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Ada
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This is a
programming language used to develop real-time systems. Old school
technology.
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Adaptive enterprise
|
A term used
for organizations that adapt to market conditions, rather than plod on
regardless (dinosaurs were a good example of this). In the extreme, adaptive
organizations will on having a bad day sack an appropriate number of staff
and retune their business plan. If the next day is better they will launch a
‘new hire’ programme.
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ADO
|
Active X
Data Object – A Microsoft standard / technology that allows Windows
programmers to access datastores. ADO protects the programmer from needing to
understand SQL or anything about the associated database.
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ADSL
|
Asymmetric
Digital Subscriber Line – a successor to ISDN. It is used to transfer voice and data over the same telephone
line.
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Agent
|
Otherwise
known as an intelligent agent is a programme that carries out a task on
behalf of a user/computer. An example includes: finding the best price for an
item by scouring the web.
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Agile (1)
|
A term used
to describe an organization that is responsive to changes in the market.
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Agile (2)
|
An approach
to developing software where there is a strong focus on user feedback and
speed of delivery. In essence it is the new name for what used to be known as
RAD.
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AI
|
Artificial
Intelligence. Essentially computers that think. See the film 2001 – A Space
Odyssey to see how this can get out of hand.
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AIX
|
IBM’s
flavour of Unix, which, runs on the RS/6000 computer.
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Ajax
|
Asynchronous
JavaScript and XML. This is a web development technique to make the web pages
feel more responsive to the user. Without Ajax when the user requests a
change the whole web page does not have to be reloaded. This increases the
web page speed and usability.
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ALM
|
See
Application Lifecycle Management.
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Alpha
|
See Dec
Alpha.
|
Amdahl
|
They make
IBM mainframe clones and are now owned by Fujitsu.
|
Analysis
|
A phase in
the software development life cycle where the user requirements are gathered.
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Analyst Programmer
|
A term used
to describe a programmer that is involved in the full development lifecycle
and so needs to have analysis and design skills as well as programming
skills. They are usually required to have good interpersonal skills.
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Apache
|
Apache is
an open source web server and is one of the key projects associated with the
Apache Software Foundation.
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Apache Software Foundation
|
ASF is a US
non-profit organization that manages a number of open source software
projects including the Apache web server and Struts Java development
framework.
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API
|
Application
Program Interface. This is a term that refers to the mechanism by which
software communicates with a particular application. For example if one
wanted to produce software that ran on MS Windows, the software would need to
be written to work with the APIs of Windows.
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Applet
|
A Java
program designed to run on the user’s computing device.
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Application Lifecycle Management
|
Application
Lifecycle Management is a term that is used to collectively describe the
tools that are used to create and maintain applications. It is the new name for what used to be
called Case.
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Application Service Provider
|
Application
Service Provider. A provider of applications via the Web. Users thus do not
need to host their own applications. Very much associated with web services.
If the Asp vendors get their way, this will be the death for end user IT
departments.
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Application Software
|
This is the
software, which makes the computer useful to users. Examples being MS Office, bank trading systems and personnel
management systems. Without
application software a computer offers the functionality of an inefficient
yet expensive room heater.
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AS/400
|
A very
popular mid range computer from IBM. Old school technology. Its successor is
known as the i-Series.
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ASP (1)
|
See Active
Server Pages.
|
ASP (2)
|
See
Application Service Provider.
|
Assembler
|
A low level
programming language. Difficult to
write and very difficult to maintain. Old school. But traces of assembler can
be found in the world of real-time systems.
|
ATM
|
Asynchronous
Transfer Mode. This is a networking
standard and technology developed by the Telecoms industry. It supports the handling of data and voice
on the same network. Old school.
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Authentication
|
Security
term, which refers to the process of verifying the identity of another person
or system.
|
Autonomic computing
|
A concept
introduced by IBM, but quickly being latched on to by both hardware and
software players. In essence autonomic computing enables computers to take
care of themselves, ie they will not need to have human support to keep them
available. This should cause operators and even system administrators to
consider their long terms career plans.
|
Avatar
|
A software
programme that simulates a real person either physically or iconically. Such
avatars can have designer personalities. The most famous to date is Ananova,
the virtual newsreader.
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