Build first and worry about integration later - A hazardous trap!!
'Build first integrate later' approach leads to heterogeneity and application silos. You need to forbid this quickly before it becomes out of control. An independently designed application, what we call monolithic is a self contained world and a "private data silo" rather than part of a larger system of applications that work together. Applications like this results in unwarranted integration complexities and issues later if not sooner.
Architects with a good vision have started automating end-to-end business processes across lines of business. They reengineer, redefine and construct a unified business platform through composite applications. So how do they build a seamless interoperable platform to allow application to application integration? The solution is - adopt SOA, Service-Oriented Architecture.
SOA enables end-to-end automation of key business processes on an integrated platform. SOA offers high reusability of services across loosely coupled applications allowing you to build a composite platform. Enhanced flexibility, as a result of application independent services, also enables smooth upgrades of applications in response to constantly changing customer demands.
The large product vendors like Oracle are in the front line of this vision, with the Oracle SOA Suite providing the most comprehensive, proven and integrated tool kit to build composite applications. Organizations that are using Oracle based applications can utilize this product to build unified processes quickly.
Next time when you build a new application which is moderately large for a new or existing process keep in mind few vital things as below:
- Have you analyzed the business process end to end including the interfaces?
- Have you insured that interfaces will be built in such a way that they are easy to change in future with less efforts?
- Have you analyzed that interfaces that you are building are going to be reused in near immediate future by other applications ?
- Have you ensured that if there is application to application data exchange there is no tight coupling between them?
In the nutshell do not procrastinate your integration worries, address them from day one with scalable and flexible options like using service oriented architecture. I would like hear your views on this subject.
