This comprehensive list of three-letter acronyms and jargon should help you navigate this month’s issue or to impress your co-workers around the water cooler.
|
Techno-Lingo |
Name/Meaning |
Factors |
Comments |
|
COM |
Component Object Model |
COM Programming Standards |
Core technology for all MS products (see COM history sidebar) |
|
DCOM |
Distributed COM |
Programming Network Emerging |
COM over a LAN between computers |
|
DNS |
Digital Nervous System |
Network Emerging COM Server |
Microsoft’s name for its vision of a computing environment where applications run are spread seamlessly across multiple computers. |
|
DNA |
Distributed interNetwork Architecture |
Standards Network Programming COM |
The Microsoft’s name for using COM and COM technologies to glue applications together |
|
VB/VBA |
Visual Basic/VB for Applications |
Programming Standards |
Core glue language embedded into almost all MS products. Completes with Java as most widely used scripting language |
|
Java |
Java Programming Language |
X-Platform Standards Network |
Language competing with VB to become the universal glue language. Most popular with browser, but gaining popularity with strong support from Sun, IBM, and even Microsoft. |
|
OLE |
Object Linking & Embedding |
Programming Standards COM |
Predecessor to COM, allow programs to share information. COM is really part of the OLE specification. |
|
CORBA |
Common Object Request Broker Architecture |
Programming Standards Network X-Platform Scalability |
Open standards competitor to COM. COBRA was designed for network architecture n-tier applications. Unlike COM, it is not used between applications on a single PC. |
|
OPC |
OLE for Process Control |
Programming Standard Emerging |
Emerging standard for application of COM concepts to process control interfaces. |
|
OCX |
OLE Component Control |
COM Programming |
Original name for ActiveX |
|
ActiveX |
Active Control |
COM Programming |
The most popular name for COM objects. Generally used to describe COM running on the client (not on a remote computer using DCOM). |
|
OLE-DB |
OLE Database |
COM Database |
A replacement for ODBC where COM interfaces are used to retrieve data. OLEDB is standard is easier to use than ODBC and more flexible because it can handle non-tabular data. |
|
MTS / COM+ |
MS Transaction Server |
COM Server Network Emerging |
A service that allows transactions (and COM) to work over a network in a standardized way |
|
MQS (MSMQ) |
Message Queue Service |
Server Scalability Network Emerging |
A technology that helps objects communicate to remote servers over slow, poor, or intermittent (dial-up) networks |
|
ATL |
Active Template Library |
Programming COM Emerging |
A simplified method for creating COM objects that makes it practical for even small software vendors to deliver DNA complaint products. |
|
ODBC |
Open Database Connectivity |
Database Standard X-Platform |
The most pervasive mechanism for attaching to databases without programming. Limitation: only works for relational data |
|
ADO |
Active Data Objects |
COM Database |
Latest generation of database interface objects from Microsoft. Very efficient Includes support for both ODBC and OLE-DB. |
|
MSCS |
MS Cluster Server |
Scalability Server |
NT Extensions that allow load balancing and help server applications to survive hardware failure with minimal user impact. |
|
MS SQL |
MS SQL Server |
BackOffice Database |
MS database server application that is a key component to most other BackOffice tools. The latest version (7.0) offers dramatically improved performance and features. |
|
SQL |
Structured Query Language |
Standard X-Platform |
The nearly standard language of relational databases. While a generic SQL is supported by most databases, advanced features require complex, incompatible, and hard to maintain SQL variations. This complexity created the need for dedicated SQL gurus (aka database administrators or DBAs). |
|
IIS |
Internet Information Server |
Server Internet Thin Client |
An included part of the NT Server platform, IIS allows NT servers to act as web servers. IIS offers native support for COM object via a MS technology known as ASP. |
|
WWW (Web) |
World Wide Web (or the Web) |
Internet Network Standard X-Platform Thin Client |
A collection of servers that provide information in the standard format known as HTML. |
|
ASP |
Active Server Pages |
COM Server Internet Thin Client |
An application of COM that uses VB or Java script to convert COM data into HTML. |
|
WNT (W2K) |
WindowsNT (versions 3 & 4) and Windows2000 (version 5) |
Server BackOffice COM |
MS’s server software provides a platform for multi-user applications and services such as those provided by BackOffice programs. |
|
VPN |
Virtual Private Network |
X-Platform Internet Network |
A set of programs that use encryption and other security technologies to allow computers to communicate safely across a public network (like the Internet) as if it were a private or internal network. |
|
VAN |
Value Added Network |
X-Platform Network |
A private network between computers that provides a secure connection between subscribing computers. VANs require dedicated wiring and are must be completely isolated from other networks to ensure security. |
|
PLC |
Programmable Logic Controller |
Network |
A special purpose computer used for monitoring and/or controlling equipment. The current generation of PLCs are network ready and can operate as peers to PCs and Servers. |
|
HMI or UI |
Human-Machine Interface User Interface |
X-Platform |
The way people get information from computers. Windows is essentially a UI. |
|
WinCE |
Windows Compact Edition |
Emerging Thin Client |
A special version of Windows designed for very small or special purpose computers. WinCE is gaining popularity as a UI for PLCs and other industrial control equipment. It is also emerging as a ubiquitous thin client for wall displays, wearable computers, and electronic tablets. |
|
NC |
Network Computer a.k.a. Thin Client |
X-Platform Network Emerging Thin Client |
A computer with minimal operating system and hardware that depends on its network connection to a server to run applications. Applications running on an NC are designed to maximize the work done on the server to minimize the work required by the NC. Web browsers are classified as thin client programs. |
|
TCO |
Total Cost of Ownership |
X-Platform Standard |
A buzzword to helps customers understand that software implementation and support costs are the lion’s share of the total cost of ownership. |
|
COMTI |
COM Transaction Integrator |
BackOffice X-Platform COM |
A part of SNA that simplifies integration to Mainframes by helping to map COM to COBOL functions. |
|
OLAP |
On-line Analytical Processing |
X-Platform Standard |
A relational database optimized for rapid analysis and retrieval of information. |
|
OLTP |
On-line Transaction Processing |
X-Platform Standard |
A relational database optimized to record a rapid sequence of events or transactions. |
|
RDMS (RDBMS) |
Relational Database Management System |
X-Platform Server |
The dominant type of database architecture stores information by taking advantage of inherent relationships in information by breaking it into manageable pieces. |
|
SNA |
Systems Network Architecture |
BackOffice Server COM |
MS Mainframe interface package allows Windows users to access a variety of services from Mainframes. See COMTI. |
|
SMS |
System Management Server |
BackOffice Server |
MS software used help to maintain client computers on a network. Manages software installation and inventory plus other remote control. |
|
XML |
EXtensible Markup Language |
X-Platform Emerging Standard Internet |
A widely heralded format for exchanging data. XML is expected to make sharing data as easy as COM makes sharing business logic. For more information review the Technology Corner in the June/July 99 issue. |
|
n-tier (3-tier) |
Multi-level architecture |
COM X-Platform Standard Emerging Internet Thin Client |
An approach to breaking an application in many smaller components and distributing those components on a LAN or WAN. See this month’s feature on Microsoft DNS. |
|
Fat client / 2-tier |
Client/Server architecture |
X-Platform Standard |
The dominant application development model for current applications requires more complex (“fat”) clients to process business logic. |
|
HTML |
HyperText Markup Lanuage |
X-Platform Standard Network Internet Thin Client |
The text formatting language supported by web browsers that allows information authors to control how text appears on the views screen no matter what type of computer they are using. |
|
Win9X |
Windows95 or Windows98 |
COM |
Microsoft’s dominate operating system for client (non-server) PCs. Provides many built in features to support COM and other manageability features, but lacks the robustness and security of Windows NT. |
|
Terminal Server |
Also known as Citrix Server or Hydra |
Emerging Server Network Thin Client |
A thin client model that runs Windows programs on a server and only sends the screen image and mouse clicks to the user. This allows almost any other computer (386 up to Unix Workstation) run the latest Windows applications. Works well even on slow network connections like modems. |
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Originally appeared in Midrange ERP, September 1999. Used with permission.
