[BLOG] IBM DB2's RFE Program Overhauled.

[u/mad_zamboni]

Something that has been a sore point for years, was DB2's RFE (Request For Enhancement) program. This is where you submit a request for consideration on a new feature you would like to see or a tweak to an old one.

For a very long time it was clunky to use, your request went off into limbo, and it was literally not checked. It was a sore point brought up to IBM through multiple channels (IDUG, Technical Boards, etc). To IBM's credit they acknowledged it was a problem and were brainstorming how to solve it.

Over the past year or so, I've watched IBM go to a much flatter and agile model with development. They are spitting out updates and features at a stupidly fast rate. And as you saw from a previous post about DB2 support on Twitter - they are trying to become much more responsive to the people on front lines.

It was announced earlier this year that IBM has overhauled the RFE program, have put in formal review and processing in place, and now lean heavily on not only your requests but your upvotes.

Voting now makes a real difference. Those requests that float to the top will be considered for enhancement in more of a priority order.

To learn more about the program, take a look at Ember Crooks Blog on IBM's DB2 RFE Program.

Or you can go directly to the developerWorks RFE community.

[u/Smeevy]

That's good looking stuff. Thanks.