As we strive to address the evolving needs of the software development landscape, the Eclipse Foundation has identified an opportunity to pioneer discussions on strategic toolchain modernization.
A toolchain can be understood as a set of software tools that work together to support the creation, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of software applications. This includes a broad range of components such as integrated development environments (IDEs), custom IDE-like applications, application plug-ins or extensions, modeling and graphical editing tools, programming languages, domain-specific languages (DSLs), command-line interfaces (CLIs), and other tools essential to software development workflows.
We propose the creation of a Toolchain Modernization Strategy Interest Group (IG) focused on sharing expertise and collaboratively developing strategies for modernizing, migrating, and transforming technology stacks. This group will address the challenges of evolving both desktop-based and cloud-based products towards more modern, scalable solutions. It will also consider emerging technologies, such as the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning or in general new technologies, as an aspect of modernization.
Call to Action: We invite all members of the Eclipse Foundation interested in contributing to or benefiting from a strategic approach to toolchain transformation to express their interest by responding to this email
Strategic Objectives and Focus Areas:
- Strategic Decision Frameworks: Providing frameworks that companies can use to decide on the most suitable approach for their specific circumstances. This involves evaluating the benefits of hybrid models, complete redevelopment on new technological platforms, or incremental modernization of existing systems.
- Collaborative Problem Solving and Strategy Development: Establishing a collaborative platform for companies to share insights, challenges, and strategies. This mutualization of effort is aimed at defining roadmaps and optimized strategies that take into account the unique industrial and maintenance constraints of the involved enterprises.
- Emerging Technologies and AI Integration: Exploring the potential and impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning or other relevant innovations, as part of the modernization process. This includes evaluating how technologies such as AI impacts modernization strategies, technology choices, and the overall approach to toolchain transformation, ensuring that decisions align with long-term goals and emerging innovations.
- Sustainability and Risk Management: Addressing the long-term sustainability of integrated toolchains and managing the associated technological, business risks, security, compliance and regulatory considerations. This includes ensuring the viability of toolchain components over extended operational periods.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Enhancing the visibility of strategic toolchain transformation options within the Eclipse community and the broader software development industry. This will help in promoting the adaptability and future-readiness of our toolchains technologies.
- Legacy and Modern Integration: Utilizing the rich ecosystem of the Eclipse IDE, including Simultaneous Release (SimRel) projects, Eclipse Marketplace extensions, and RCP-based products, to support companies with substantial desktop-based toolchains. Exploring how these can be integrated or transitioned to modern technology stakes, like those developed by the Cloud Dev Tools Working Group, (Eclipse Theia , Theia IDE, Open VSX, and Eclipse Che) or the Eclipse IDE Working Group (Initiative 31).
By initiating this Interest Group under the Eclipse Foundation, we seek to foster an inclusive environment that encourages detailed analysis and discussion of the various strategic options available for toolchain evolution. This initiative will not only support the technological shifts in toolchain strategies but will also reinforce the foundational role of the Eclipse IDE and Cloud Dev Tools working groups within our ecosystem.