Windows DNA details emerge

Microsoft VP David Vaskevitch presented some details about the Windows DNAarchitecture today during his keynote address at the Professional Developers Conference (PDC). Windows DNA (Distributed interNet Application)provides a unified application architecture and system services thatintegrate client/server and Web applications. His presentation, however,began with a little NC bashing, saying that the era of the PC is far fromover.

"I think the rate of change is accelerating, and it is about to hit the most rapid rate of change we've ever seen," he said.

DNA will be "auto-everything," according to Vaskevitch. Data management, location transparency, deferred calls, transactions, clustering, load balancing, and resource management all will be automatic, he said.

As for scalability, Vaskevitch said that Microsoft would release Windows 95versions of all of their server software. He used a Windows 95 version ofSQL Server during the presentation (this product won't see the light of dayuntil SQL Server 7, due early next year).

"We're talking about taking the server infrastructure and making it work ona workstation. Every server component you're used to seeing in our servers will be available on clients," he said.

Third party developer support for Windows DNA is very strong as well. 70%of PDC attendees said they would create DNA/NT 5.0 apps in the next twelvemonths.

"Windows DNA lays down the foundation, the pipe and the wiring for applications so our customers can focus on building value-added informationnetwork applications rather than on building infrastructure," said Rick LeFaivre, vice president of research and development and chief technology officer at Borland. "This means developers add value rather than build plumbing."