SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 1997 — Laying a foundation for new application development, Microsoft Corp. today at the Microsoft® Professional Developers Conference outlined the Microsoft Windows® Distributed interNet Applications (DNA) architecture, a unified approach for building distributed, scalable, multitier applications that can be delivered over any network.
Microsoft Windows DNA is the first application architecture to integrate the Internet, client/server and PC models of computing for a new class of distributed computing solutions. The architecture enables organizations to take advantage of new technologies such as the Web while extending their investments in existing applications and data. Because Windows DNA takes full advantage of tightly integrated Windows platform services, organizations can focus on delivering business solutions rather than on being systems integrators.
“With the tidal wave of technologies impacting application development, customers are looking for a road map for creating successful solutions, today and in the future,” said Paul Maritz, group vice president, platforms and applications, Microsoft. “Windows DNA defines a framework for delivering solutions that meet the demanding requirements for corporate computing, the Internet and intranets, and global electronic commerce, while reducing overall costs of development and deployment.”
Microsoft Windows DNA
Windows DNA architecture uses a standard set of Windows-based services that address the requirements of all tiers of modern distributed applications: user interface and navigation, business process, and storage.
The heart of Windows DNA is the integration of Web and client/server application development models through the Component Object Model (COM). Windows DNA architecture uses a common set of services, including components, Dynamic HTML, Web browser and server, scripting, transactions, message queuing, security, directory, database and data access, systems management and user interface. These services are exposed in a unified way through COM, enabling applications to take advantage of them easily.
In addition, because Windows DNA architecture fully embraces an open approach to Web computing, it builds on the many important standards efforts approved by bodies such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Using the Windows DNA model, customers can build modern, scalable business applications that improve the flow of information both within and outside an organization, are dynamic and flexible to change as business needs evolve, and can be integrated easily with existing systems and data so these systems can be extended, rather than replaced.
Customers and Leading Software Vendors Embrace Windows DNA
“We are embracing the Windows DNA architecture. Using Windows platform technologies, we are able to build applications faster and with lower costs,” said Mike Bell, vice president of business engineering at ARD, the Asset Resolution Division of HomeComings Financial Network, a subsidiary of GMAC-RFC. “Microsoft’s approach gives us tremendous flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing business conditions.”
“Microsoft Windows DNA is an excellent fit with Continental’s strategy of integrating key technologies, tools and systems to meet our business needs,” said Michael Natale, senior manager advanced technology, Continental Airlines. “Microsoft’s application framework will enable us to more easily build multitier component-based applications to enable us to respond faster in the fiercely competitive airline industry.”
In addition, major enterprise software vendors including The Baan Co., SAP AG, PeopleSoft Inc. and Computer Associates today endorsed Windows DNA, calling it an ideal way to combine the universal reach of the Internet with the in-depth services of Windows-based distributed client/server software.
“Windows DNA underscores Microsoft’s commitment to interoperability and makes our jobs as software developers a lot easier,” said Laurens van der Tang, executive vice president, research and development, The Baan Co. “By taking advantage of the integration of components, Web services, transactions, directory services and system services, we can build more powerful component-based, distributed solutions more quickly and get our products to market faster and ahead of our competition.”
Customers Can Build Windows DNA Applications Today
“For several years, Microsoft has been building a rich set of services for distributed computing into its operating systems, tools and application software,” Microsoft’s Maritz said. “Windows DNA integrates these efforts to provide a framework for software developers and managers.”
While open to non-Microsoft platforms and products, Windows DNA builds on the client-side richness of Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer, the distributed infrastructure of Windows NT Server and the BackOffice® family, and the productivity of Microsoft’s integrated tools such as the Visual Studio
™
development system. In addition, because Windows DNA architecture uses open protocols and published interfaces, organizations can easily integrate third-party products and solutions.
While the technologies of Windows DNA are available today, the architecture also provides organizations with a road map for the future. For example, Microsoft is enhancing Windows DNA with the availability of Internet Explorer 4.0 (Dynamic HTML, scriptlets), Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 (integration of Web, components and transaction services), and Microsoft Windows NT Server network operating system 5.0 (Active Directory, Zero Administration services). COM+, the evolution of Microsoft’s object model and component services announced this week, will further extend the scope and richness of Windows DNA applications.
More information about Windows DNA is available on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsdna/default.asp . For a complete listing of Microsoft’s developer offerings, visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/ .
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