Paul Mooney takes on the released "red bull"

Now that Microsoft has released the ApplicationAnalyzer 2006 for Notes, Paul Mooney has reprised his examinationof the beta code, code-named "Red Bull". No longer can Microsoft claim that this is beta...so here are theresults of Paul's sought-aftertest drive. In part1, Paul examines the premise and documentation around the now-releasedAnalyzer.  Not much haschanged, but there is a new XML-based configuration file.  Some challenges:First, the tool stops analyzing if itfinds a template with a standard out-of-the-box name and filename.  Hopeyou haven't been modifying the standard templates...Second, "Theoretically I couldcustomise the XML file to say that even if the database is nothing likethe template and has lots of additional fields, class it as a Quad1 orQuad2. "  Which means that a practitioner in the field couldput their finger on the scale, so to speak, and and make a lot of applicationslook more simple than they are.  Of course, we're notexactly in the realm of airtight ethics,so let's watch out for configuration file hacking.Third, the tool can't be run on a Notes7 client, but does require the mysterious "Notes 5.16" or higher.Inpart2, Paul reports on the released Application Analyzer's results. He even has some fun faking out the tool -- taking the out-of-the-boxMS Office Document Library in Notes and adding a single field.  Allof a sudden, that application is in "quadrant 4" --"Furtheranalysis is required to identify possible solutions from the MS collaborationplatform".   In summary, Paul finds [The Microsoft Application Analyser]lists the majority of production databases as QUAD3 or QUAD4 (not easyto migrate) and once any QUAD1 or QUAD2 template based application straysoff the beaten track, MS knows that Sharepoint is in trouble and liststhe database as QUAD3/4.  That's because its not easy to migratethe apps.  We all know it.  On one box, the domino servercan easily provide services that multiple MS packages cannot.  Andthat is accepted by many people... For all its flaws, the tool is honest. There is no easy migration to MS products... if you read the reportsfrom this tool on your production databases, it tells you that.  Ofcourse, the FUD doesn't tell you that.  We should almost encourageour customers to run this tool.  It tells them a: Their easy RAD applications in Domino are considered complex in MS landb: When an MS sales guy comes in and says we can easily migrate your apps(and they do... I have seen it), show him the door. Soundslike a plan to me.  I wonder if that applies to the bounty-seekingpartners, too?