Setting up the Environment

Software is rapidly moving from the desktop to the Web. The Web provides a generic user interface that allows ubiquitous access, instant collaboration, integration with other online services, and avoids installation and configuration on desktop computers. For software development, the Web presents a shift away from developer workstations as a silo, and has the promise of closer collaboration and improved feedback through innovations in Web-based interactive development environments (IDEs). Moving IDEs to the Web is not just a matter of porting desktop IDEs; a fundamental reconsideration of the IDE architecture is necessary in order to realize the full potential that the combination of modern IDEs and the Web can offer. This paper discusses research challenges and opportunities in this area, guided by a pilot study of a web IDE implementation.

It has now become evident that information and communication technologies (ICTs) are pertinent for economic prosperity, which has led to governments around the globe to offer online government products and services. For this purpose, websites offering information from governments to citizens and interaction between governments and citizens using static web pages and web portals are considered to be essential. This paper reports the results of an evaluative study of a cross-section of the e-government portals using a common set of performance metrics and web diagnostic engines and empirical evidence gathered from a diverse range of respondents. Results show that not only are there wide variations in the spectrum of information and services provided by these portals, but that significant work still needs to be undertaken to make the portals examples of 'best practice' e-government services.