Lab49 Update: January - June 2009

The first half of 2009 was a busy one for Lab49. Here are some of our new highlights from the past quarter:

1. Grid Computing Case Study: "Distributed Analysis with ScaleOut StateServer"

Lab49 partnered with ScaleOut Software to investigate the benefits of using ScaleOut StateServer Grid Computing Edition in a typical, real-world, financial services application. This study implemented a back-testing framework for automated equity trading strategies. We show linearly scalable performance and reduced data motion which otherwise would saturate the grid's interconnect, delivering more than 5.7 times faster throughput than conventional approaches. To find out the details, read the full case study here.

2. Waters Double-Header: "Riding the Tsunami" and "Opportunity in the Crisis"

Lab49 produced a pair of articles for Waters this time around. First, Lab49's Erkut Gokan, argued in April's issue that firms need to update their trading and risk infrastructures, and implement a holistic approach with a balance of powerful new technologies. Then, in June's Special Report for the 2009 SIFMA Conference, I wrote about how financial institutions should be addressing the current challenges presented by the market crisis, and how, by investing in the right technology, firms can radically improve their agility and intelligence. Read both pieces: "Riding the Tsunami" and "Opportunity in the Crisis".

3. FX&MM Article: "Building a Bank from Scratch"

Lab49's Joe Morrison hypothesizes what it would take to rebuild bank systems from scratch to support real-time data aggregation and analysis, to provide a platform to capitalize on next-generation technologies, and to accommodate constant change. Joe also discusses what principles, technologies and processes should be put in place to facilitate the optimal solution. The article can be read here.

4. WPF Technical Session: "Composite development for WPF and Silverlight using Prism 2.0"

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Silverlight, and the .NET platform allow development of client applications with amazing richness. But the more power that an application requires, the harder it can be for teams to coordinate their efforts in delivering different product features. The Composite Application Guidance for WPF and Silverlight (also known as Prism 2.0) provides patterns, libraries and tools to enable collaborative development best practices among teams. At the recent Enterprise Developer's Conference, Lab49's Daniel Simon demonstrated best practices and specific techniques using these technologies. The full presentation can be seen here.

5. Lab49 Received the Windows in Financial Services Innovation Award

Nominated by Microsoft's Capital Markets Industry Solutions Group, Lab49 received a Windows in Financial Services Innovation Award for its innovative work done in building advanced applications in the front office of capital markets firms. Commenting on the award, Microsoft's Craig Saint-Amour, director, U.S. capital markets industry solutions director, said "Lab49 has always been at the vanguard in the industry of adoption of the latest Microsoft technologies, and this award reflects the depth of expertise Lab49 brings to bear on many of the cutting-edge applications within the top institutions." The award was presented at the 2009 SIFMA Technology Management Conference.

As always, this and previous newsletters are available on our website, at http://www.lab49.com/news/lab49newsletterJuly09.

Staying current: