25 ISVs You Must Know

• Published in: CRN 2007-07 (1244), p.S.14
• Main Author: Darrow, Barbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alliances; Computer programming; Content management; Servers; Software; Software industry; Third party; Value added resellers; Vendors
• ISSN: 1539-7343

On the one hand, Microsoft maintains what it calls an "integrated stack" from the server and client operating systems, up through server applications and middleware to client apps. And for building/customizing apps, there's Visual Studio. On the other hand, the company says there's plenty of room for third-party ISVs to add value, in terms of vertical capabilities and in filling in the "white space" above and within the stack itself. Such white space is key to Microsoft's ability to boast of a vibrant ecosystem of third-party developers. Ask any of the VARs or solution providers in Microsoft's orbit what their favorite third-party tool is and they often will start with the default: "We use Microsoft tools." But they then reconsider and tick off a number of tools, utilities or foundation software they use to augment and supplement the Microsoft bits. For George Brown, CEO of Database Solutions, go-to testing tools include those from big players Mercury Interactive (now part of Hewlett-Packard) and IBM's Rational group to XML Spy. The latter, an XML debugging tool by Altova, is a crowd-pleaser among many VARs interviewed. The sentiment about XML Spy from independent tech consultant Mike Drips was: "I can't believe Microsoft doesn't just buy that and be done with it. It's so much better than what they have."