Architecting with RM-ODP

Rating:
Summary: VERY comprehensive...
Review: Janis has done a wonderful job of explaining all the key concepts and elements of RM-ODP. Her diagrams are clear, the references are numerous, and you will definitely have a ton of confidence about the RM-ODP once you're finished with the book. I revisited the ISO standards once I finished Putman's book and found the information much more meaningful. Some drawbacks: References to the Zachman Framework (interesting, but that work really didn't move forward appreciably), References to Boehm's Spiral Model (Barry's work is spectacular, but referencing the Rational Unified Process, which is much more mainstream, would have been of great benefit to the reader), and References to some technologies that have disappeared (TINA, for instance). All in all though, don't let that discourage you from getting this book. If you're using RM-ODP, this is THE book to have.

Rating:
Summary: VERY comprehensive...
Review: Janis has done a wonderful job of explaining all the key concepts and elements of RM-ODP. Her diagrams are clear, the references are numerous, and you will definitely have a ton of confidence about the RM-ODP once you're finished with the book. I revisited the ISO standards once I finished Putman's book and found the information much more meaningful. Some drawbacks: References to the Zachman Framework (interesting, but that work really didn't move forward appreciably), References to Boehm's Spiral Model (Barry's work is spectacular, but referencing the Rational Unified Process, which is much more mainstream, would have been of great benefit to the reader), and References to some technologies that have disappeared (TINA, for instance). All in all though, don't let that discourage you from getting this book. If you're using RM-ODP, this is THE book to have.

Rating:
Summary: RM-ODP Finally Explained !!
Review: Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing

Wow. In a word. This is the definitive source on comprehending the RM-ODP specifications. If you are a Software Architect and are considering the RM-ODP school - this is the book for you.

I have only just completed my first pass through this 800+ page guide/tutorial/reference and know that I will have to pass through it several times again.

The preface to this work quotes Aristotle "To understand anything, you should not try to understand everything". Use this as your guide in plunging through the depths of this work. Operate under the assumption, as I did, that you will either comprehend it on the next pass or it will be referenced again later in the work.

The task Janis Putman must have set for herself in shedding more than light: clarity - on the subject of RM-ODP, had to have been daunting.

She succeeds! Filled to the brim with diagrams, cross-references, different views into the work - this is worth every penny if RM-ODP means anything in your life. If you are involved in distributed system development - you must have this book.

If you have tried to comprehend the RM-ODP specification on your own - stop! I attempted that myself and got somewhere into the middle of it before I lost the threads I was following. This Book will pull it all together for you.

My review at this time is twofold: Relief I made it through the experience and Joy that the trip was worth the time to go from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Some Good but Not Enough
Review: There is a lot of good information in this book, and it is much more readable than the specifications. Putman is able to give meaning to a terse and deep standard.

However, there is almost no practical application in her book. The running example is left for a hundred pages at a time. There is little to demonstrate how an architecture affects software design and code.

There is also very little to tie concepts together. When finished with the book, I didn't have an overall view of RM-ODP: just lots of little views.

This is the only book available on RM-ODP, so I recommend this book with that in mind. However, I hope Putman is able to revise this work into a more practicle and cohesive form.

Rating:
Summary: Some Good but Not Enough
Review: This book will prevent all but the hardiest of souls from adopting RM-ODP, which is a shame since RM-ODP presents so much that is useful to the architect.

You are much better off learning RM-ODP from the ITU Reccomendations than this book.

If you are already familiar with RM-ODP this book does contain some useful nuggets of information--if you are willing to dig hard enough to find them.

Ms. Putnam's book is disorganized and prolix. It is appalling that she quotes herself in the front matter. "Architechting with RM-ODP" is neither of use to the beginner or valuable as a reference to the practitioner.

Rating:
Summary: It's a shame this is the only available RM-ODP book.
Review: This book will prevent all but the hardiest of souls from adopting RM-ODP, which is a shame since RM-ODP presents so much that is useful to the architect.

You are much better off learning RM-ODP from the ITU Reccomendations than this book.

If you are already familiar with RM-ODP this book does contain some useful nuggets of information--if you are willing to dig hard enough to find them.

Ms. Putnam's book is disorganized and prolix. It is appalling that she quotes herself in the front matter. "Architechting with RM-ODP" is neither of use to the beginner or valuable as a reference to the practitioner.