Re: UKNM: Broadvision

[Danny O'Brien]

On Mon, Feb 14, 2000 at 09:54:53AM +0000, Andrew Gilfrid Day wrote:

 > Well this has probably been asked before but what do we all think of

 > Broadvision?  http://www.broadvision.com

  

http://www.peterme.com/bvsucks/

Pretty much sums up my opinion, based on some nightmarish

experiences in my past, and various friend's comments on

subsequent BV projects.



Points:


1. In my direct experience, BV used to really, *really*, suck. It's 

    got better since then.


2. It's got a steep learning curve, at the top of which

    is a set of features that most programmers could implement with

    simpler, more open systems like AOLServer, PHP or ASP. I've yet

    to see a BV site that did something that you couldn't do more

    easily, with less technology lock-in, with these widely-

    available systems. If you have more sophisticated requirements,

    (or clients that want something big and expensive to calm

    their fears), StoryServer has more successful 

    implementation tales that you can learn from.

    If you want a steep learning curve because you need to create

    genuinely innovative solutions, I'd have a look at Zope, which

    is relatively new, but appears well-engineered, and is open source,

    or MediaSurface. I don't know much about these, but I've heard

    good things.

    

3. I know this is tricky, but I'd ask *why* the client is so keen on BV,

    since choosing the content management system should be a technical

    decision (should be: sadly, CMS's tend to also limit the design

    and workflow of a site. This shouldn't be the case, but they all do it.

    My experience with BV suggests that it's worse than most.)

    Anecdotal evidence suggests that BV tends to target sales

    at the marketing and non-technical staff at prospective clients,

    rather than the technical side.  I'll draw no conclusions here.


4. Naturally, all of this is IMHO. All I really know is that

    BV seems to provoke some *very* extreme reactions amongst

    developers, and I've yet to hear a good story about it.

    If someone wants to send me one, I'd be happy to pass it on.


5. Similarly, BV seems to have much more marketing bullshit at work

    than comparable products. This doesn't mean it's necessarily

    a bad piece of software, but it sets my warning lights blinking, 


 > I ask due to possible client wishing to use it, and apart from all the

 > marketing b-sh*t  there is v.little on their site about technical/ support

 > overheads/requirements.

 > 

 > So.. can any one help?

 > 

 > Thanks

 > Andrew



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