Category: History

Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) Timeline

The Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM) is a highly structured, “waterfall” methodology developed in the 1980s for the UK government to standardise IT project management. Its timeline can be viewed through two lenses: its historical evolution as a standard and its internal execution phases. 

Historical Evolution Timeline

SSADM evolved through several versions to become an “open” standard used widely in public and private sectors. 

  • 1980: The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) evaluates various analysis and design methods.
  • 1981: Consultants from Learmonth & Burchett Management Systems (LBMS) are selected to develop SSADM v1.
  • 1983: SSADM is made mandatory for all new information system developments within the UK government.
  • 1984–1986: Version 2 (1984) and Version 3 (1986) are released, with the latter being adopted by the National Computing Centre (NCC).
  • 1990: Version 4 is launched, introducing more refined modules and stages.
  • 1995: SSADM V4+ is announced, followed by the release of V4.2.
  • 2000: The CCTA rebrands SSADM as “Business System Development,” repackaging it into 15 core modules with additional specialized modules. 

Methodological Execution Timeline (Stages 0–6)

SSADM follows a strict linear sequence where each stage must be completed and “signed off” before the next begins. 

  1. Stage 0: Feasibility Study – Analyzes technical, financial, and organizational feasibility to determine if the project is cost-effective.
  2. Stage 1: Investigation of Current Environment – Models the existing system using Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) to understand current data and processes.
  3. Stage 2: Business System Options – Presents up to six different ways to build the new system, allowing users to choose the best strategic direction.
  4. Stage 3: Requirements Specification – A complex stage that builds a full logical specification of what the system must do, including Entity Life Histories (ELHs).
  5. Stage 4: Technical System Options – Evaluates hardware and software architectures to determine the best technical implementation.
  6. Stage 5: Logical Design – Defines user dialogues, update processes, and enquiry processes in an implementation-independent manner.
  7. Stage 6: Physical Design – The final stage where logical specifications are converted into real hardware and software database structures and program specifications.

Timeline of our Planet and Solar System

The history of our planet and solar system spans roughly 4.6 billion years, evolving from a chaotic cloud of dust into the structured environment we see today. Below is a comprehensive timeline of major milestones from the formation of the Sun to the distant future. 

The Early Solar System (4.6 – 3.8 Billion Years Ago) 

  • 4.6 Billion Years Ago (BYA): The Sun forms from a collapsing cloud of interstellar gas and dust, likely triggered by a nearby supernova.
  • 4.59 BYA: The giant planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—begin to form in the outer solar system.
  • 4.5 BYA: The rocky inner planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—form.
  • 4.5 BYA: A Mars-sized body (often called Theia) impacts Earth; the resulting debris coalesces to form the Moon.
  • 4.1 – 3.8 BYA: The Late Heavy Bombardment occurs, where shifting orbits of giant planets send asteroids crashing into the inner planets, likely delivering water and organic molecules to Earth. 

The Rise of Life (3.8 Billion – 500 Million Years Ago)

  • 3.8 – 3.5 BYA: The first life forms (simple single-celled organisms) appear on Earth.
  • 2.5 BYA: Photosynthetic organisms evolve, beginning the Great Oxidation Event, which pumps oxygen into the atmosphere and creates the air we breathe.
  • 1.9 – 1.3 BYA: First eukaryotes (complex cells) and later multicellular life emerge on Earth.
  • 715 – 600 Million Years Ago (MYA): Earth experiences “Snowball Earth” events, where the planet is almost entirely covered in ice.
  • 575 MYA: The ozone layer forms, providing protection from UV radiation and making land habitable. 

Complex Life & Modern Era (541 Million Years Ago – Present) 

  • 541 MYA: The Cambrian Explosion leads to a massive diversification of animal life.
  • 252 MYA: The Permian Extinction (“The Great Dying”) wipes out 95% of life, eventually clearing the way for dinosaurs.
  • 66 MYA: A giant asteroid impacts Earth (Chicxulub), causing the extinction of the dinosaurs and allowing mammals to become dominant.
  • 2 MYA: Early ancestors of humans begin to emerge.
  • 300,000 Years Ago: Homo sapiens (modern humans) appear.
  • 2006: Pluto is reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet. 

The Distant Future

  • 5 Billion Years from Now: The Sun will exhaust its hydrogen fuel and begin expanding into a Red Giant.
  • 7.9 Billion Years from Now: The Sun is expected to engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth.
  • 8 Billion Years from Now: The Sun will shed its outer layers and collapse into a White Dwarf. 

Timeline of our Planet and Solar System

Dinosaur Timeline by Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Period

Dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era, commonly known as the “Age of Reptiles,” which lasted from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago (mya). This era is divided into three distinct geological periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. 

1. Triassic Period (252 – 201 mya) 

The Triassic began after the “Great Dying” extinction event, which wiped out 90% of life on Earth. 

  • Early Triassic: The world was a single supercontinent called Pangaea, largely covered by deserts.
  • The Dawn of Dinosaurs (~243–233 mya): The first dinosaurs emerged as small, bipedal creatures.
  • Key Dinosaurs:

2. Jurassic Period (201 – 145 mya) 

Following a mass extinction at the end of the Triassic, dinosaurs became the dominant land animals as the climate became warm and humid. 

  • Middle to Late Jurassic: Pangaea began to split into two smaller landmasses, Laurasia (North) and Gondwana (South).
  • Rise of Giants: This period is famous for the evolution of massive long-necked herbivores (sauropods).
  • Key Dinosaurs:

3. Cretaceous Period (145 – 66 mya) 

The longest period of the Mesozoic saw the greatest diversity of dinosaurs and the appearance of flowering plants. 

  • Peak Diversity: Continents continued to drift toward their modern positions, creating isolated environments where unique species flourished.
  • Famous Predators & Herbivores:
  • The K-Pg Extinction (66 mya): A massive asteroid impact in the Yucatan Peninsula triggered a global catastrophe that wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs. 

WordPress Content Management System (CMS) Timeline Overview

WordPress has evolved from a basic blogging tool in 2003 into a dominant Content Management System (CMS) that powers over 43% of the internet including this https://mark-whitfield.com website. Its history is defined by major version releases, often named after jazz musicians, and shifts toward “Full Site Editing”. 

This WordPress website started around 2021

The Early Years (2001–2005)

  • 2001: French developer Michel Valdrighi launches b2/cafelog, the PHP/MySQL-based blogging software that served as the foundation for WordPress.
  • 2003 (May 27): Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little release WordPress Version 0.7, a fork of b2/cafelog.
  • 2004: Version 1.0 (“Miles Davis”) introduces SEO-friendly permalinks and comment moderation. Version 1.2 (“Mingus”) debuts the plugin architecture, allowing for external extensibility.
  • 2005: Version 1.5 (“Strayhorn”) introduces the Themes system and static Pages, moving WordPress beyond just chronological blog posts. Automattic is founded by Matt Mullenweg in August. 

Expansion and Ecosystem Growth (2006–2010)

  • 2006: The first WordCamp is held in San Francisco. Automattic registers the WordPress trademark.
  • 2007: Version 2.1 (“Ella”) adds autosave and spell-check. Version 2.2 (“Getz”) introduces Widgets.
  • 2008: Version 2.7 (“Coltrane”) revamps the dashboard, moving the menu to the sidebar where it remains today.
  • 2010: Version 3.0 (“Thelonious”) is a major milestone, introducing Custom Post Types and Multisite capabilities. The WordPress trademark is transferred to the non-profit WordPress Foundation. 

The “Modern” Dashboard & Visual Improvements (2011–2017)

  • 2011: WooCommerce is released (later acquired by Automattic in 2015), revolutionising WordPress e-commerce.
  • 2013: Version 3.7 (“Basie”) introduces automatic background updates for security patches. Version 3.8 (“Parker”) gives the admin dashboard the modern, flat design used today.
  • 2014: Version 4.0 (“Benny”) focuses on media management with a new grid view.
  • 2016: The REST API is integrated into core (v4.4), allowing WordPress to interact with other web applications. 

The Gutenberg & Site Editing Era (2018–Present)

  • 2018 (Dec 6): Version 5.0 (“Bebo”) launches the Gutenberg block-based editor, fundamentally changing content creation from text-heavy to visual blocks.
  • 2022: Version 6.0 introduces Full Site Editing (FSE), enabling users to edit headers, footers, and templates visually without code.
  • 2024: WordPress continues to refine the site editing experience with Version 6.7 (“Rollins”). In late 2024, a public legal conflict began between Automattic and WP Engine over trademark usage and contributions.
  • 2025–2026: Version 6.8 (April 2025) and future Version 7.0 roadmap focus on real-time collaboration (Phase 3 of Gutenberg) and AI integration.

WordPress Content Management System (CMS) Timeline Overview

This WordPress website selling Project Management templates – see banner above

Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK

Salford Quays has evolved from a largely empty landscape of racecourses and medieval halls into one of the UK’s most significant urban regeneration projects.

1. The Industrial Era (1887–1981)

2. Decline and Early Redevelopment (1982–1999) 

3. Cultural and Digital Expansion (2000–Present)

  • 2000: The Lowry arts centre is opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
  • 2001: The Lowry Outlet Mall (now Quayside MediaCity) opens to the public.
  • 2002: The Imperial War Museum North opens its doors across the water from The Lowry.
  • 2007–10: Construction of MediaCityUK takes place; the BBC confirms the relocation of five departments to the site.
  • 2011–12: BBC and University of Salford staff move into MediaCityUK; ITV later moves its Manchester base (including Coronation Street) here in 2013.
  • 2021: Buildings at MediaCityUK achieve net zero carbon status.
  • 2022: The Salford Quays 2030 vision is launched to further enhance the area as a vibrant community hub. 

Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK

MediaCityUK
My MediaCityUK Salford Quays photo timeline

Salford Quays Technical Timeline

From its engineering origins as the Manchester Docks to its current status as a digital hub, 

Salford Quays has undergone a massive technical and structural transformation. 

Industrial Foundation & Engineering (1887–1982)

  • 1887–1893: Construction of the Manchester Ship Canal, an engineering feat measuring 35.5 miles from Eastham to Manchester.
  • 1894: Official opening of the Manchester Docks by Queen Victoria, establishing Manchester as Britain’s third-largest port.
  • 1905: Opening of No. 9 Dock, the largest in Salford, by King Edward VII.
  • 1970s: Deindustrialisation begins as the rise of containerisation makes the narrow canal obsolete for modern, larger ships.
  • 1982: Final closure of the docks, resulting in 3,000 job losses and leaving the area as a polluted wasteland.

Regeneration & Environmental Recovery (1983–2000) 

  • 1983–1984: Salford City Council acquires the derelict docks.
  • 1985: Launch of the Salford Quays Development Plan, envisioning a new residential and commercial district.
  • 1986–1990: Massive infrastructure programme: polluted dock water is separated by bunds, and a compressed air mixing system (Helixor) is installed to improve water quality.
  • 1987: Introduction of 12,000 coarse fish to the now-cleaned waterways.
  • 1989: Opening of the Mariners Canal to link the Ontario and Erie Basins.
  • 1999: Completion of major bridge works and the Metrolink extension, connecting the Quays to Manchester city centre.

Cultural & Digital Expansion (2000–Present)

  • 2000: The Lowry arts centre officially opens.
  • 2002: Completion of the Imperial War Museum North, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.
  • 2007: Construction begins on MediaCityUK.
  • 2011: The BBC completes its move to three buildings (Bridge, Dock, and Quay House).
  • 2014: Coronation Street begins filming at its new dedicated production centre in MediaCity.
  • 2021: MediaCityUK buildings become the first in the UK to achieve net zero carbon status.
  • 2025–2030 Vision: Ongoing regeneration frameworks aim to deliver over 3,000 new homes and 75,000 sq metres of commercial space. 

BASE24 and core Networking Component XPNET timeline

The technical timeline for BASE24 and its core networking component, XPNET, reflects the evolution of high-availability payment switching on HP NonStop (Tandem) systems.

Technical Evolution Timeline

  • 1980s: The Foundation
    • BASE24 Release: Originally developed by Applied Communications Inc. (now ACI Worldwide), BASE24 was built for the Tandem Guardian operating system.
    • XPNET Introduction: Developed as the Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) to handle all transaction routing and communications. It introduced a multi-node architecture allowing different “satellite” processes (ATM, POS, Host) to communicate.
  • 1990s: Scale and Maturity
    • Classic Era: BASE24 “Classic” became the industry standard for ATM and POS switching.
    • XPNET 3.x: Enhanced to support larger networks and more complex auditing through NCPCOM.
    • Language & DB: The system relied on TAL (Tandem Application Language), COBOL, and the Enscribe database.
  • 2000s: The Shift to BASE24-eps
    • 2003–2005: ACI introduced BASE24-eps (Electronic Payment Systems). This was a re-architecture using C++ and Java to provide platform independence.
    • XPNET 4.1: Released to support the transition, adding features like Common Transport Subsystem (CTS) for better Pathway integration and support for external processes.
    • z/OS Support: By 2009, BASE24-eps was fully ported to IBM z/OS using CICS and VSAM.
  • 2010s – Present: Modernisation & Cloud
    • 2014–2017: Continued updates to BASE24 Classic R6.0, maintaining its relevance for legacy users.
    • Cloud Enablement: Recent versions of BASE24-eps focus on REST API integration via tools like LightWave, allowing legacy XPNET paths to be exposed as web services.
    • Active/Active Environments: Modern implementations focus on “continuous availability” using GoldenGate for data replication between sites. 

Key Technical Components

  • NMM (Network Management Module): The core process of XPNET that manages the configuration of lines, stations, and links.
  • LCONF: The Logical Network Configuration File used by XPNET to define how messages route between processes.
  • Auditing: XPNET provides the primary transaction auditing mechanism, which is still utilized by both Classic and eps versions.

BASE24 and core Networking Component XPNET

MultiBatch is a high-performance, mainframe-class workload automation and batch scheduling solution

MultiBatch is a high-performance, mainframe-class workload automation and batch scheduling solution specifically designed for the HPE NonStop parallel architecture (formerly Tandem). It is developed by ETI-NET (formerly by Insider Technologies) to manage complex batch schedules across both NonStop Guardian and OSS environments. 

Key Milestones and Timeline

  • 1976 – Tandem NonStop Origins: The foundation for these systems was established with the introduction of the first NonStop servers by Tandem Computers.
  • 2017 – MultiBatch Release: Insider Technologies announced an updated release of MultiBatch to enhance off-line processing flows for the HPE NonStop arena.
  • 2019 – GUI and Monitoring Enhancements: Real-time status monitoring through a GUI interface was highlighted as a major differentiator, allowing users to visually track complex batch schedules like RTGS and securities settlements.
  • 2020 – Business Benefits Proven: Case studies demonstrated that MultiBatch could reduce online-dealing batch times by up to 6 hours per day.
  • 2022 – MultiBatch 10 for TBC: MultiBatch 10 was presented at the NonStop Technical Boot Camp (TBC), positioning it as the only workload manager for NonStop built on continuous innovation principles.
  • 2024 – Modernization and Security: Recent updates focused on securing and modernizing the platform for high-performance multitasking. 

Core Functionality

  • Parallel Execution: Supports batch schedules that run concurrently across multiple nodes, leveraging the NonStop architecture for high availability.
  • Hybrid Support: Seamlessly integrates both Guardian and OSS jobs within a single schedule.
  • Batch Prediction: Uses historical metrics in a status database to predict schedule completion times based on average and maximum elapsed run times.
  • Simplified Migration: Unlike NetBatch, it allows for extracting and inserting schedules between environments (e.g., test to production) without TACL changes.

MultiBatch is a high-performance, mainframe-class workload automation and batch scheduling solution

Mark Whitfield IT Career Timeline, AI generated from Google

The technical timeline for 

Mark Whitfield, an SC cleared, Senior IT Project Manager and Engagement Manager, spans over 30 years and transitions from specialized banking software development to high-level project leadership and cloud migrations. 

Professional Career Timeline

  • 1990 – 1994: Programmer at The Software Partnership (later Deluxe Data). Developed electronic banking software (sp/ARCHITECT-BANK) on Tandem Computers (now HPE NonStop) for major banks like TSB and Bank of Scotland.
  • 1994 – 1995: Lead Analyst at Deluxe Data International, continuing support and development for banking customer systems.
  • 1995 – 2013: Project Manager of Strategic Technical Initiatives at Insider Technologies Limited. Oversaw projects involving Reflex 80:20, Sentra development, and corporate website authoring.
  • 2013 – 2014: Project Manager (Banking Division) at Wincor Nixdorf Limited, focusing on professional services for the banking sector.
  • 2014 – 2016: Senior Digital Project Manager at Betfred Limited, managing the Online and Mobile Division.
  • 2016 – Present:Engagement Manager / Senior PM at Capgemini UK.
    • 2016: Led a £4.3M data centre migration for Royal Mail (RMG) involving 1,100+ interfaces.
    • 2018 – 2019: Augmented into MuleSoft as a Delivery Manager for the Anypoint Platform.
    • 2020 – Present: Leading a £13.5M cloud migration program moving 130 UK government apps to Azure and AWS. 

Technical Training & Education

Whitfield maintains an active Professional Training timeline to adapt to changing technologies:

  • 1990: Graduated in Computing.
  • 1995: HP NonStop TAL Programming and Performance Tuning.
  • 1997: C/C++ Programming at Comtec.
  • 2006 – 2009: Deep dive into security and databases, including Cryptography, Thales e-Security, and Microsoft SQL 2000.
  • 2011: Java and Google Android programming using Eclipse IDE.
  • 2014 – 2024: Advanced Microsoft Excel and AI-focused refreshers. 

He is also a Certified Engagement Manager and a registered PRINCE2 Practitioner proficient in both Agile Scrum and Waterfall methodologies.

University of Greater Manchester formerly the University of Bolton from BIHE – Timeline

The institution now known as the University of Greater Manchester (formerly the University of Bolton) has a history spanning over 200 years. Below is the timeline of its evolution from a local mechanics’ institute to a modern university. 

Origins and Early Development (1824–1963)

  • 1824–1825: The Bolton Mechanics’ Institute is founded to provide education for working people.
  • 1857: The School of Art is established.
  • 1892: The new Bolton Technical School opens to accommodate growing student numbers.
  • 1926: The Technical School is expanded and renamed Bolton Technical College.
  • 1952: A major new building for the Technical College opens on Manchester Road. 

The “Bolton Institute” Era (1964–2003)

  • 1964: The technical college separates to establish the Bolton Institute of Technology (BIT).
  • 1970: New facilities on Deane Road are inaugurated by Princess Margaret.
  • 1982: A merger with the Bolton College of Education (Technical) creates the Bolton Institute of Higher Education (BIHE).
  • 1991–1995: The institute expands its capabilities, gaining the authority to confer both taught and research degrees. 
Bolton Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) before the rebuild to the university building below.

University Status and Recent History (2004–Present)

  • 2004: BIHE achieves university status, becoming the University of Bolton.
  • 2005–2010: Significant leadership changes occur, including the appointment of Professor George E. Holmes as Vice-Chancellor and Baroness Morris of Bolton as the first Chancellor.
  • 2018: The institution merges with Bolton College.
  • 2024: The institution undergoes a rebrand to the University of Greater Manchester.
University of Bolton
University of Greater Manchester 2024 (formerly the University of Bolton, from BIHE)

I attended Bolton Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) in the late eighties.

1988 to 1990 : University of Bolton (previously Bolton Institute of Higher Education – BIHE) 
Deane Road, Bolton, Lancashire, UK. BL3 5AB

Higher National Diploma (HND) in Computer Studies –
DISTINCTION – overall first over the 2 years

mark whitfield mark_whitfield_bihe_university_of_bolton

The HND course I attended at BIHE was a 2-year, full-time course made up of the following modules: 

  • Computer Systems Architecture
  • Programming Methodology Theory / Practice (final year project)
  • Data Processing
  • Business Studies
  • Quantitative Techniques
  • System Analysis
  • Business Information Systems Theory / Practice

My final year project consisted of an ORACLE SQL-forms designed GUI interface running under an MS-DOS operating system. The GUI interface provided insert, update, delete and transaction rollback facilities for recording information about students attending courses at BIHE, along with their module assignment and exam result details. The student data was held in an ORACLE SQL database set-up on a PC local to the application.

Meaning of Pancake Shrove Tuesday

Meaning of Pancake Shrove Tuesday

Roman Origin Arena Amphitheater re-purposed in Pollenzo village

Roman Origin Arena Amphitheater re-purposed in Pollenzo village