Thoughts, ideas, tips, musings, and pontifications (not necessarily in that order) by Ben Forta …
NOTE: This is my personal blog, and the opinions and statements voiced here are my own. 

ColdFusion 8 Can Return Identity Values
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Here’s another ColdFusion 8 goodie that I just learned about yesterday …
If you are using a database table with an identity (auto-increment) field, ColdFusion 8 can automatically return the newly created field value for you, without needing a trigger or a subsequent <CFQUERY>. All you need to do is look in the <CFQUERY> optional RESULT structure, and if available the value will just be there. This feature is very DBMS and driver specific (and unfortunately does not seem to be supported by Apache Derby), and the name of the structure member containing the generated value is different based on the DBMS being used. Here are the ones you should be aware of:

SQL Server: result.IDENTITYCOL
Oracle: result.ROWID
Sybase: result.SYB_IDENTITY
Informix: result.SERIAL_COL
DB2: result.KEY_VALUE
MySQL: result.GENERATED_KEY (MySQL 4 and 5 only, MySQL 3 does not support this feature)
Very nice indeed!

 Ben Forta

There is a lot that can go wrong with any technology project, and in many cases overlong delays, overstretched budgets and complete failures do occur. In the software industry, it is certainly not news when a implementing a project plan doesn’t go as smoothly as originally intended.

Here are five of the biggest project mistakes to avoid:

1) Hire a team of inferior developers

Conceptualizing, creating and implementing new software is challenging work, to say the least, and many so-called programmers simply aren’t up to the task. It would behoove anyone planning to initiate a new project to develop a comprehensive series of tests that will be able to ascertain, with a high degree of certainty, the level of competence for each programmer hired for your team. Just accepting someone’s resume at ‘face-value’ is no good. Demonstrated competence in specific program areas should be the absolute minimum during the hiring process. (more…)

For any business client, there is a huge potential difference in the quality of the services rendered when comparing professional and non-professional firms in the software programming market. At EcomSolutions, Inc., it is our sincere belief that 99% of the firms fall into the latter category.

To differentiate between professional and non-professional firms, the former (representing only 1% of the industry) are larger in size and scope, and can afford to properly design the project architecture. They also carry enough insurance to ensure that the project is successfully carried through to completion. (more…)

One of the specialized programming techniques utilized by EcomSolutions, Inc., for the benefit of certain clients, is known as “extreme programming.” The method features a high degree of simplicity, communication and feedback. In it, the entire programming team communicates continuously, allowing for enough feedback to instantly fine-tune all aspects of the project.

Planning and tracking is a key part of extreme programming to move the project forward to completion as expeditiously as possible. Utilizing this technique is aimed at producing highly-integrated end-products that pass all usability tests. (more…)

EcomSolutions, Inc. offers expert consulting for Cisco networking systems and network security. In many businesses, networking systems have evolved haphazardly, creating a situation where data is stored and utilized inefficiently, maintenance requirements are costly, security is poor, and routine modifications turn into major problems.

However, Cisco’s network products and tools support efficient models of data center architecture, which allows for continuing improvements in server utilization, storage, connectivity, and all applications in a controllable and cost-effective manner. (more…)

EcomSolutions, Inc. features a team of expert consultants who are completely conversant with the complexity and integration demands for the newest generation of Microsoft .NET servers. We have both hands-on expertise and extensive knowledge in designing and implementing effective start-to-finish business technology solutions.

Our consulting services include the following applications: (more…)

EcomSolutions, Inc. has a dedicated team of Linux experts with the ability to develop a strong strategic computer application plan to fit any business. Combining experience with technical knowledge, we work in accordance with the Rational Unified Process (RUP) methodology. This allows us to help businesses:

• Reduce overall costs
• Increase server reliability
• Improve security
• Support future business growth (more…)

EcomSolutions, Inc. offers expert programming and consulting services to clients in the deployment and administration/maintenance of leading databases such as SQL Server and Oracle in a Windows environment.

As industry leaders know, effective database development and administration are more important than ever. As a result, it is vital that organizations have access to database professionals who possess the expertise to build, implement and maintain their repositories of data, as well as keeping them secure.

SQL Server (more…)

EcomSolutions, Inc. provides expert consulting services to clients in deployment and administration of middleware products such as Websphere, Weblogic and database products Oracle and DB2 in Unix environments.

It has been proven many times over that information dissemination is a key strategic asset for any business, and effectively leveraging such information allows the best organizations to outperform their competitors and form more substantial relationships with suppliers and customers. By hiring us, a firm will automatically give itself that competitive edge (more…)

Web development firms proliferate in New York, as do many types of businesses in the business capital of the United States. Given the pervasiveness of the Internet in the American lifestyle and its many markets and applications, some of them quite lucrative, it is hardly surprising that an astoundingly large number of businesses, involved in every aspect of the Web, are thriving in “the city that never sleeps.”

In such a competitive market, a New York Web development firm must differentiate itself from its competitors, or be swallowed up by the market. Rather than advertise themselves as Web “generalists,” some firms have become known for their expertise in dealing with a specific programming language, like ColdFusion or Ajax, or for a certain application in widespread use on the Internet, such as database integration. (more…)