EMCO MSI Package Builder vs. IBM DevOps Code ClearCase

For large, complex software deployments that have a number of install scenarios and executables that interact with one another, EMCO MSI Builder is well-suited. It is able to track software installs, registry changes, file additions, and deletions, modifying shortcuts and anything else that would be needed to prepare big deployment projects for large organizations.

Incentivized

IBM Rational ClearCase might be better suited for a smaller / simpler code base. Larger code bases really slow it down... but then again there are better alternatives out there for source control

Incentivized

• Capture Customizations to settings/registry.
• Track File movement and additions during install for specific uses.
• Capture file and system level changes for inclusion in deployment.

Incentivized

• Rational ClearCase is excellent for handling versioning and branching. No other tool I've used has the depth that ClearCase has when it comes to handling complex branching scenarios and identifying where certain versions of particular files are within a particular configuration.
• Rational ClearCase handles parallel development of many dependent applications really well.
• The use of ClearCase Views to switch between projects and configurations is extremely convenient as opposed to the local workstation model of the competitors.

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• Work on clearly defining functions on reboot.

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• Extremely buggy.
• Sometimes the repository gets locked for no reason.
• Slow.

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Support has always been quick to respond with additional information and clarification

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Provides advanced functionality for the enterprise level software deployment analyst over and above the basic tools that Microsoft included with the original APP-v sequencing tool, allowing the analyst greater control over what is captured and how it is captured. This makes the impact of needing to change the deployment package easier to maintain and update

Incentivized

If development is centrallized to one location and your company releases hundreds of customized versions of your software per year, then ClearCase is the best tool for managing the complexity of multiple versions of customized software. If your company has globally distributed development, then I'd recommend Team Foundation Server over ClearCase. If your organization uses Agile Methodologies, then I'd recommend TFS with GIT.

Incentivized

• It allows faster turnaround time for complex deployment projects.
• Easy to update existing deployment packages with changes.
• We must maintain the pristine virtual machine for usage.

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• Managed code versioning for many years.
• Only one person can edit code at a time - slows processing down.
• IBM is an expensive product to support.

Incentivized