Just because the traditional stack vendors aren't players in event processing, that doesn't mean there isn't a complete software solution required for event processing. The new event processing stack has elements that the big stack vendors don't want you to know about (because they can't sell them to you).
The elements of any software infrastructure are:
- Connectivity
- Business logic
- Presentation layer (GUI)
- Database
For event-based systems, connectivity is the most important element. It includes legacy middleware like TIBCO, but more importantly includes new innovative messaging like high-speed solutions Solace and Tervela, Google Chrome (namely websockets), and standards like AMQP and DDS. AMQP is very attractive as a standards based messaging wire protocol. Solace, Tervela, RedHat, Apache (QPID), RabbitMQ and various other messaging providers/vendors are working hard on AMQP interoperability. CEP is great at analytics. AMQP is great at distribution. CEP over AMQP simplifies integration. Industry specific connectivity is also critical. For example, in the capital markets, connectivity to FIX, Reuters, Wombat, FX venues, and so on - this connectivity helps speed integration and bring CEP online.
Business logic is the domain of event processing like StreamBase.
At the database level, relational databases still play a role to store history, but just as important, if not more so, are column-oriented databases like Vertica.
Finally, some of the most innovative presentation layer technology for time-series data is coming from the Eclipse open source community.
What’s the pattern in all this stack innovation? None of it comes from the big companies - it’s coming from small innovative startups that are breaking down the physics of traditional computing as we form a new stack for the next 50 years of innovation.
...to be continued....
