Web 2.0 Architectures

Web 2.0 into the Uncertain Future

So what Web 2.0 phenomena will persist? We would like to think that all the patterns we’ve explored (both the larger explicit patterns covered in Chapter 7 and the smaller implicit patterns readers might pull from this book) are durable and will survive well into the future. While some pundits and analysts declared SOA dead in January 2009, we believe the style of architecture using services will likely be around a decade from now, and beyond.

Never before has it been so important for companies to understand the patterns that have driven their tactical behavior. If optimizations can be made, now is the time to make them. If processes can be made more efficient, saving from the bottom line now might make the difference between surviving or not. The future brings uncertainty. Having the mindset and mental discipline to recognize new patterns before your competitors do might make the difference between just surviving or being the biggest player in the space.

The Rich User Experience pattern, which often manifests as Rich Internet Applications (RIAs), is probably one of the hottest patterns today. The reason for this is that on the Web, your competition is only a few clicks away. The quality of the user experience matters now more than ever. While some companies might consider cutting back on customer service to conserve cash, now is probably the worst time to cut back on customer experience enhancements. If you have a RIA plan, put it into effect now. ...