B.3 Concluding Remarks

I l @ ve RuBoard

Over the past decade , we've worked on many aspects of networked application R&D, ranging from blue-sky academic research to hands-on product development and consulting. In our experience, the most effective way to bring the power of advanced software R&D techniques to mainstream commercial software developers is to

1. Develop high-quality reusable software based on cutting-edge systems research.

2. Work with early adopters to deploy it in real-world applications.

3. Provide commercial support and services to help transition and assimilate the new techniques to mainstream software developers.

Significant penetration into commercial markets rarely occurs until researchers demonstrate the benefits of their techniques in real-world operational systems. Completely decoupling technology from research, however, can curb the leading-edge R&D efforts required to improve and extend new technology. Close cooperation between research and commercial groups help maintain forward development and smooth migration into the mainstream. Combined commercial/academic efforts, such as Riverace and the DOC Group , require patience and teamwork to maintain the best of both worlds . The results can be quite rewarding for all parts of the team, as well as for the user community that benefits from their collaborations.

I l @ ve RuBoard