We are well into a coding phase.  The plan had been to get CruiseControl.  We definitely need some tool to automate the build, regression, unit test process.  Surprise, we aren’t getting CruiseControl, we are going to use Rational Build Forge.  Appears to be an pretty good product.  Lots of features, runs everywhere, etc…

My only qualm is we have been using ClearCase, another Rational product, for version control.  This has been less than stellar to the extreme issues of Blue Screens of Death during regular use.  Again, the Rational product versus Subversion, which I think the rest of the industry has been using without a hitch for years.

Just out of curiosity I poked at the pricing for Build Forge: $165,000 for the server and additional fees for groups of user licenses!

I was always curious how software tool companies have survived in this era of open source.  I think in most cases there is a good alternative free tool that probably works better (svn vs. clearcase, cruise control vs build forge, …)  Now it is clear:  The larger shops have bought into the commercial products over a period of many years and like anything else, are loathe to change the way they do business even though everyone involved probably agrees it would be a good idea to change.