So, what’s ESB? Its technology implemented inside the enterprise to manage the numerous external services leveraged within internal applications. In other words, if we’re going to leverage outside services within our existing internal applications we need some type of infrastructure to track, version, test, report on, and manage the use of these external services, including how much is being paid for these services and availability.

So, why don’t we just leverage existing governance systems or registries? I’m finding that these guys are building more for internal services, and don’t address the specialized needs of dealing with service providers who exist outside of the enterprise. I view that as a specialize set of functions.

So, you want to do this? We need to do a few things:

First, redefine ESB in the marketplace as Enterprise Services Brokering. Give the Enterprise Service Bus guys a call and tell them to stop using that TLA. They are nice guys, I’m sure they won’t have a problem.

Second, after funding, give me a lot of stock for coming up with the idea and a BOD seat.

Third, build the technology by the end of 2006, that is when large scale use of external services will really be noticed by the marketplace.

Finally, go public in 2008 so I can sell my stock.

Remember, you read about it here first.

Dave