text:
Minecraft: Pocket Edition Cheats for iPhone - iPodHome / iPhone - iPod /
This page contains Cheats for Minecraft: Pocket Edition organized by sections for iPhone - iPod. Minecraft: Pocket Edition is a Adventure First-Person game, made by Mojang AB, released on Nov 17, 2011 and published by Mojang AB. If you can't find a hint or secret in our list, then please check this page periodically for the latest updates.
- Developer:
Minecraft: Pocket Edition iPhone - iPod CheatsMojang AB
- Publisher: Mojang AB
- Genre: Adventure First-Person
- Release Date: Nov 17, 2011
- ESRB: Not Set
- Other Platforms
To make torches you need to go to the side of mountains and find grey blocks with black spots the you go to the crafting table and make sticks then you can make torches....From: Kit kat
Firstly you must have: - iexplorer - a computer - a connection cord and MCPE (obviously) Ok so go on explorer and click on apps. Find MCPE, click MCPE and keep going on documents-games-mojang-minecraf...From: AandE
Ok. so you can't find any diamonds. After you've been mining for hours and hours you can't even find coal or iron. Well i suggest digging all the way to bedrock and then pillaring ten blocks up. Then ...From: nikin1
Turn off 'Visual Effects' within the 'Options' in the event that your system is struggling you're going to get a performance boost....From: AustralianAngel
In water you are able to go swimming and it contains no existence life form and in addition it prevent you from burning and could make you drown. Lava will hurt you, burn you and when your items touch...From: rocknrollkid767
Well we all know how to get wood, Right? But we need wool too to get wool u have to get 3-4 sheep, So sadly u have to kill them and get the wool. Then go to... And go to craft and get a crafting table...From: Brie
Enter "mojang" in the seed code and it will spawn you in a grassland with coals near your spawn and a nice big dessert for big houses and if you search around the world in creative, you'll f...From: Mineraft PE
(NOTE: In order to change your skin you must have a comuter with internet access. As of v0.6.0, it was annuonced that 6.x/7.0 would allow you to change your skin.) First google iexplorer and download ...From: bluephantom
First of all choose a place away from your house and flatten a 3x3 area. Place a small + of cobblestone and in the corners gold blocks. (before smelting ores duplicate to 11.) on the next row on top t...From: bluephantom
These two seeds are rich in ores. Seed 1: 'hunter' has a few majestic moutains and almst every hole you dig, you're certain to find something. The downside to this seed is there is no dessert biome me...From: bluephantom
So u want to know how to make a base under a tree? Nice. You came to the right place! Find a tree with a good reasonable place you can remember (u can remember better if the tree is near the spawn.) D...From: Epicdude84
Ever felt like taking a late night walk? You can't, it's too dangerous! BUT building a wall (stone brick for looks) 2 blocks thick seals an area. After that, carve a 2 by 2 hole in the wall for a door...From: bluephantom
If you stack fence 4 blocks high with a fence overhang you will have a lampost. Add glowstone under the overhang. You're done!...From: bluephantom
This may be common on you guys already. but what I do to duplicate is build a stair like tower. You will need to build it big enough. at the end you need to fall down and die just like that. after you...From: minegamer
One of the best ways to collect resources such as cacti, sugarcane, and mushrooms are to go to the Nether Spire. The Spire itself is made entirely out of Netherrack, which is quick to mine with an iro...From: MuffinLove<3
Ok if your having trouble finding sugar cane it normally grows near water in sand thanks...From: Minecraft 101
Ok say if your lost u have 2 ways out killing your self or wandering around trying to find your house which normally get u even more lost my suggestion is u should have made a trail of torches on grou...From: Minecraft 101
U take some TNT and make the biggest whole in a mountain it has to be really dark because they spawn in the darkest place in your world....From: Minecraft 101
The seed is 0.4.0 this will give u 2 gold some iron and 5 diamond....From: Minecraft 101
Place your redstone block next to a floating water (you should check out 'how to get imcpedit', if you click it, the water will slowly float down....From: Toiletbabe
Advantage: You get materals like coal, iron, diamond, gold, and lapis lazuli.. You don't waste materials; you get more. Your hidden from players. Safer travel. Disadvantages: Mosters might spawn if it...From: flamethrower
In seed code type 3314400 ,in that world go forward to 1 block high hill go right & you'll see holes that are 1 block deep & 1 hole has 1 iron ore....From: iron on surface
So start by getting a chest and whatever you want to duplicate (blocks or items). Then place your <empty> chest and put your block or item in the chest. Close out of the chest and wait 3 seconds...From: Stephdaboss
Type in the seed box: nyan The seed nyan has extreme mountains and over hangs and the highest point is only a few blocks off the max height. There is lots of lava, water and ores. Note: There are a lo...From: TGleds27
These are some good diagrams for defenses: Wall: c=coblestone o=obsidion coc coc coc The coblestone allows for better deceration and the obsidion for explosion defense. If you have no obsidion, you ca...From: flamethrower
Never kill sheep. Just shear them. They grow back their wool again once they eat some grass. This works with colored sheep. You know how to die a sheep, right? You get the color dye you want and hold ...From: Some Guy
In order to spawn herobrine on MCPE 7.0 or better you have to make a 5 by 5 pyramid made out of diamond blocks. Then you have to place a torch in every corner on every layer and on the top of the pyra...From: Squirrelface48
In creative mode, float up in the air and shoot an arrow down then make shore that u have bonemeal in your inventory, thence quickly tap the bonemeal then it should be an inc sac! If you quit the game...From: DJ-PON3
Here are alot of seeds for you guys! PE Seeds With Diamonds / Gold jpgaming (dig straight down) 0.4.0 (dig straight down) rainbowdash sorry FORPARTY ROCKIN PE Seeds With Lava Android nyan shit Notch I...From: CheatsKing19
Ever wondered if you can catch things on fire in creative, PE? Well, you can. This is how to obtain burning Netherrack: You'll need: - Land without trees - These in your hot bar: Dirt, Sapling, Nether...From: ...
Get lava and wool put lava on wool break it with a iron shovel leave game wait 5 seconds go back on game and bam! Diamond block....From: Chris
Type in steve in the seed code then you'll spawn on a island one of the islands has a lot of trees and you can use them to make an obstacle course and there's an open spot to make another obstacle cou...From: Iron on surface
What you do is that you make a 3x4x(how Long you want the train to be) then place fences on the middle block then fly on the fences....From: Sir steve
Build a plus out of glass in the air dig out middle put one block on bottom fill with chickens mine bottom block chikens will go 2 ground and blow up....From: MinecraftPEhelp
What you want to is place a door anywhere. Then place any block on top of it. Keep placing blocks on top of each other until you think you've don enough. You will now need to build a 3 by 3 platform o...From: MinecraftMatt
A great seed for mine craft pocket edition. Tons of lava falls, waterfalls and archways. There are huge mountains and a mini island. I had my house on the island and rarely monsters come on to it....From: Izzy2424
Place 6 gold blocks down, none in the middle, it should make a square. Next, put torches ontop of the gold blocks. Put on sign in the front of it, saying Hero Bryne's Home. Put Oak Planks around the g...From: Trap!
Hello Guys on this quick tip i will tell you a seed that has a small ravine on it. The seed is called bAsketgoal. To check if you have the right seed, you will spawn on a mountain. I hope this tip hel...From: CheatsKing19
Creepers r one of the most dangerous yet useful parts of minecraft. Creepers r the only way to get gunpowder so the best way to deal with them is to first, get ones attention. Once it notices u back a...From: gamecritic
Herobrine Nyan Sky city walk BBB Infinity Raygun Time ( flat land seed ) Broarmy 0.4.0 And My favourite seed.... theelderscrolls "I think this seed is amazing!"...From: Cheatsking19
You can only do 2 things with charcoal 1# make torches 2# and to use as fuel in a furnace. To collect it you just collect any type of wood when you collect it DON'T turn it into wood planks you go and...From: CheatKingGaming
If you want an awesome seed with hills to hollow out or blow up and ditches to turn into lakes, this is the seed for you! This is for mcpe! Go to minecraft and start a new world with the seed topofthe...From: Someone
Make a tall, wide and closed tower with a door and a light source('s) only at the bottom Make 2 closed dark rooms at the top of the tower with no light sources (make the rooms bigger than the tower) F...From: Gilly567
I apologies for the few year delay for this post. As some of you may have seen before in part 1, I promised I would submit more defenses for you to try when I got 10 likes. Now I am at over 60!!! Here...From: Flamethrower
Have you ever wondered how to seek hidden mines or whatever in other peoples worlds? Think not! Simply go to the edge of the world. Jump. Place block under you. Repeat until the game won't let you go ...From: EvaNeedsToKnow
1. Enderman sounds are people saying "Hi", "Hello", and "What's up?" backwords and mixed up? 2. Chicken eggs have a 1 in 1,027 of producing 4 chickens when broken? 3. Sli...From: Flamethrower
Put 'infinity' as your seed if you so you will spawn on a tree. walk on the hill. see the stone 3 by three thing dig all the way untill you see a cave.go in it there is gold,emrald,redstone,iron and c...From: Sallyjes03
Easter Eggs
First, make a tower of cacti as high as you can go. Then place a non transparent block ( this may work with transparent blocks but I haven't tried) next to the base of the cactus tower and it will loo...From: Anonymous
Get out a bow and bonemeal in creative charge the bow fully and let go but quickly change to the bone mea and it takes a few tries and only works in creative....From: Mcpe
You might be familiar with this but... HOW TO GET INC SACS IN MCPE: 1. get a bow and bone meal 2. shoot the bow 3. right after you shoot the bow,switch to bone meal Now, the bone meal will turn into a...From: iron on surface
This has you grab a bow in creative then bone meal shoot at the Water and tap the bone meal quickly and then you have a inc sac it's useless but it's a Easter egg and it highlights red it's perfectly ...From: skyplays mc
For this you have to create a stone stair first, after this place one of your doors on the stair. If done correctly there will be 2 doors....From: garrett
When you try to put a door at the top of a set of wooden stairs, it pops up with two doors. This means you can make one door and one set of wooden stairs and you can make as many doors as you want wit...From: Minecraft Ninja
When fighting creepers fight with pickaxe and right before final strike switch to axe and kill it and gives you unlimited everything....From: POOPY HEAD
First place something then click the home button the double click the home button hold on the minecraft box until it shakes then click the red minus button the go back into the game then your world an...From: Multiplier
First you but a block down anyone then you go off the game double click on the home button and hold down the minecraft app and it will start to shake then press the - button then go back on minecraft ...From: Jack
Get a friend to join your world, then both of you have to go into the same chest and put the item in that you want duplicated. You both have to press on it at the same time, if it is like 2 of the thi...From: brosef
Ok so this is for the PE so you build a nether reactor make the first layer for the telaporter thing (3x3 grid, gold blocks at the corners fill in the 5 spaces left with cobble stone the place the net...From: Leapster
This might be common this might not be common, but let's start. You could also watch on video (mannygsyt) on my duplication trick. WITH CHEST: So first you get a block (the item has to be placeable) a...From: ?MYSTERY PERSON
Obtain a large amount of ore blocks or other block of choice. Next, place all blocks of choice. Press home buton once, then twice more to open recenly used apps. Hold down on minecraft in recents, and...From: cMace360
K so this works on anything as long as its a brick, my friend tyler i tried to do this with diamonds and he had 10 but he had them not in a brick and he lost them so have a brick. anyways through it o...From: me?
Make a nether portal on minecraft pe the activate it, when the glowing obsedien is there break through it to break the nether reactor and the building won't break and the glowing obsideon should stay ...From: BUDDER WARIOR
If you have only a little bit of gold or diamonds then you can make more! I will use gold as this example but anything that can be placed on land will work. If you have gold blocks or gold ore then sk...From: Gofishes
Note-- this works with any full block (eg, dirt, gravel, diamond block, iron block etc) Get a valuable block, like diamond or gold/butter. Place it down Wait exactly 1.5 seconds Go out of minecraft us...From: Zan
So all you have to do is have one of the blocks you want to have more of and ten put it outside of your door this only works on minecraft pe do the thing where you press your home button twice the thi...From: Minecraft455
You need to go to the seed "raygun", no spaces, then under spawn, you'll have 9 diamonds and some iron to collect the diamonds. Then after you get the 9 diamonds make it into a diamond block...From: AsLegion
Make a tower as high as you can go at the edge of the world. Jump off the edge of the world and you can walk on air. To return to the normal world walk into the world or quit the world and reload it!...From: TGleds27
So if your haveing a hard time fighting monsters. First you connect to another person and trick them in to turning there phone or I pad get a monster. Before they turn it off then you get a monster th...From: Look. Jacobs
E.g-get 9 diamonds and craft into a diamond block and so the same again Put on block in a chest and place the other next to it This will only work on apple software Go off the app and double click the...From: A&C minecrafter
This is a cheat to have incibility 99+ items. Ok, First have someone join you. Then make them hold something(especially something like a diamand sword). Next tell them to leave. After that tell them t...From: Mr.Guy
This glitch is good if you are doing skyblock on survival. The things you would need is: Lava bucket water bucket If you guys didn't know this that if you put lava next to water it will either turn in...From: CheatsKing19
You need 2 players and the item you want to duplicate. Put the item you want multiplied in a chest and get both players to look in it. At the same time tap the item and then you should have 1 each. Pu...From: Chicken Warrior
This requires 2 people to do it: Give someone at least 1 of the thing you want and make sure they have it in there hands then attack with a sword then when the person can't take any more sword hits fi...From: Iron on surface
First you place a valuable block to you that you want to duplicate. This will be the only thing for this in minecraft pocket edition. so don't do any thing else afterwards. This only works in flat pla...From: Magma
So you have to have: 10-20 Blocks, 1 door. You place the door and all those blocks on top. Open the door and close it on yourself.Then close the app and double click the home button. Then, for iPhone ...From: Ripjaw908
This Glitch is very easy to do and works on all Version's. The thing(s) you need are: A local Multiplayer Server. So all you have to do is make a 2nd player join then the host has to lock His/Her IPod...From: CheatsKing19
For this glitch, you will need 64 cobble stone. Your going to need enough fuel to burn all the 64 cobblestone, so when all of the cobblestones smelting just let it wait...when all of it is smelted int...From: Dizz
I'm not completely sure how much of a glitch it is, but it sure is useful. First get on a survival world that you have, then find a chest that has something you want more of, I.e. diamonds, red stone ...From: Silent Tiger
If you have a bow in creative and have a block or spawn egg like broken stone hold the bow right after you shoot touch the spawn egg or water/lava buckets to transform them to a empty spawn egg or emp...From: legoboy4life
For this glitch you will need a bow and at least one arrow. First of all you will tap on the inventory box that has the bow on it, you will then use the bow and pull an arrow back ( do not let go of a...From: jacetheace4
Step 1: Make sure you have nothing in your inventory. NOTHING! Step 2: Collect 2 of the same items. Examples: 2 seeds, 2 pieces of cobblestone, 2 pieces of iron, etc. Step 3: Make sure those two items...From: Minecraft Cheat
This cheat requires minecraft pe 10.0 or 10.4 you must being in survival to do this. Choose any block you can place put all you items in a chest and grab the item you going to duplicate put it in the ...From: Creeperminer
Stuck on this game? Set a specific, clearly defined question and let others answer your question or view answers to previously asked questions. If you think you are an Minecraft: Pocket Edition expert then please try to help others with their questions.
Yesterday I found a world I didn't create. It says GIFTFROMMANA. Who is mana and how did this world appear?...
Posted on: 03-17-2015
I'm trying to walk alap around the world in Minecraft Pocket Edition. Is this possible? I can not find the answer. How big is the world? Thanks in advance...
Posted on: 03-10-2015
I went and explored a world I have played in for while. I played it for a while and noticed it was really lagging. (It was a tundra biome). I got bored after a while and switched t...
Posted on: 02-03-2015
I do everything I possibly could but I never find quartz...
Posted on: 01-26-2015
So I was playing minecraft on my I pad and I had this huge world filled with all sorts of awesome stuff. Then all the sudden all of my buildings just disappeared and I ended up in ...
Posted on: 01-11-2015
Please answer this question i want to see a temple...
Posted on: 11-15-2014
I downloaded Minecraft Maps 2014 on my Android Tablet, and the worlds with the maps were being saved on Minecraft. I deleted all those map worlds, and found all of my real worlds w...
Posted on: 11-11-2014
As of 0.9.0 there is new generation. Which are some good seeds to use?! I am most concerned in ore (I am fine with diamonds, iorn (to make buckets and to mine diamond), gold, lapiz...
Posted on: 11-04-2014
Minecraft: Pocket Edition - Seed?! Diamonds, Caves, Islands
- Nov 11, 2013, Views: 1243
Minecraft: Pocket Edition - Ep.1 top seeds
- Nov 11, 2013, Views: 713
Minecraft: Pocket Edition - Good Diamonds, Lava, Gold and Iron seeds
- Nov 11, 2013, Views: 1868
Minecraft: Pocket Edition - Diamond Epic Seeds
- Nov 11, 2013, Views: 748
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Philly's Review of Antidote by Viktor & Rolf
I first tried Antidote on my skin in duty free shopping before my flight, and kept smelling it through out the flight. Initially I found it a bit strong, but as the top notes wore off it just kept getting better and better. By the end of the 3hr flight I just HAD to buy it! Its a unique fragrance, different from most perfumes out there. I find the top notes slightly too much, but once it settles its just smells delicious! I have a few but this one is amazing, and my top pick!
Written by Philly on January 14, 2011

subset: commoncrawl


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Is Samsung stealing Apple's thunder?
Samsung releases its S6 before Apple begins its process of hyping up its most recent Smartphone releaseMarch 23, 2015 2:24
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Qatar's bourse says plans rights issue trading
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Soccer-Xavi close to deal with Al Sadd, says Qatari club
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Kuwait February inflation edges up to 2.9 pct
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf markets sink after Yemen intervention; Dubai worst hit
HSBC's Islamic banking unit plans sukuk sale in Malaysia
Oil rises more than 1 pct, boosted by weaker dollar
UAE's Shah gas project seen achieving full capacity in Q2
National Bank of Fujairah issues 500 mln dirham tier 1 capital
Plus: How retail sales in the UAE are set to skyrocket… Kipp takes a look at the latest numbers.
October 17, 2010 1:26 by Samuel Potter
The latest figures have underlined the widely perceived fall in cost of living in the UAE, just as a new forecast says that retail sales – and presumably the economy with them – are set to skyrocket.
In its annual Cost of Living report, Kershaw Leonard confirms what most of us already know: thanks to the slump in property prices, the cost of living and working in the UAE has declined in the past 12 months. In its seventh annual report, the Dubai-based recruitment consultancy found that Dubai led the drop with freehold prices for villas and apartments falling by as much as 40 percent.
"Villa and apartment rents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have also fallen by similar amounts. However, while freehold property prices appear to be levelling out and in some cases making some modest gains, rental prices are still heading southbound," says Kershaw Leonard's Managing Partner Mike Hynes in his press release spiel.
But resilient prices in education, healthcare and household utilities remain high, and thanks to these the UAE is the most expensive place to live in the GCC. "The past twelve months have demonstrated just how quickly trends can change," continues Hynes, before launching into the sales pitch: "The UAE Cost of Living Report now has seven years of historical data on which to base comparisons and make predictions. In addition, the report provides informed commentary and insights from leading industry sources."
Read more, if you can afford it, here.
Meanwhile a forecast from Business Monitor International says economic growth, wealthy expats, and increased urbanization will see retail sales in the country leap by 30 percent over the next four years, taking annual spending to AED 97 billion. The majority of this spending increase will be on cars, food and drugs (pharmaceuticals, not the other kind).
So if you're looking for investment options, you could do worse than those three areas: pharmaceutical sales are expected to leap by almost 50 percent, while car sales should jump 34 percent. Food sales will find their way to an 18.4 percent increase.
Not all the action will be UAE based, however: BMI predicts that the country's share of the UAE market will shrink a little over the coming years – from 10.3 to 10.1 percent. And evidently this relative shift will have more to do with fast growth in other countries than a UAE contraction, since the emirates economy will be expanding as well – GDP could grow by an average of 4.1 percent annually from now until 2014.
1 Comment
I fail to understand how the economy of the U.A.E. will improve in the future.
Let's face it, with a glut of overpriced real estate that is mostly rotting in its glory, how can anyone predict an improvement. I don't see it.
Perhaps this manpower business should visit the back alleys and see how much scrap is being sold and mostly everything that was employed for construction. Vast amounts of unfinished projects that already look like ghosts….who can have faith in a place that has sights like that.
Are you going to GITEX?
October 17 2010
Business of… Awards
October 17 2010


text:
A Foundation for the Pillars of Software Factories
by Tom Fuller
Summary: The complexity involved in designing and developing solutions has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. As your application portfolio evolves, there are process strategies that can help your organization overcome the problems that plague software development today. Promoting reusability by adopting production line methodologies will ensure broader success of the systems delivered using these processes. Reusability rarely happens by accident, and using strategic processes like architecture-driven development will make discovery of reusable components an intentional step as opposed to an opportunistic one.
Managing Increased Complexity
Defining the Vision/Scope for All Process Iterations
Building Your Assembly Line
Prerequisites for an Architecture-Driven Process
Taking the Next Step Toward Industrialization
About the Author
The most valuable artifacts that any architect can produce are those that can be applied across numerous problem domains. This versatility is why patterns, frameworks, guidelines, reference models, and automation tools are core deliverables from any process iteration. Delivery strategies that focus on architecture must extract and apply proven techniques for solving challenging application problems. Architects will typically be embedded at the project level but remain knowledgeable of enterprise scope. Over time, the collection of these extracted best practices forms a library for other teams to use as they compose their solutions.
It is immediately evident that the software-factory pillars and the delivery goals of an architecture-driven process are in sync. Using standards-based deliverables, like software-factory schemas and pattern languages, to group and describe your enterprise architecture components can take your enterprise architecture to the next level. Capturing reusable artifacts with these templates gives your organization a consistent way to deliver reusability. The methodology will then extend beyond the construction and delivery of the product and focus on post-delivery return on investment measurement, education, and the long-term road map for these deliverables.
Introducing architectural guidance within any software development life cycle will improve the overall effectiveness. It is this process and delivery shift that is at the heart of the software manufacturing revolution. This article explains how to use an architecture-driven process and the software-factory pillars to change how you structure teams and deliver solutions. The goals here are to explain what it means to use that process and what type of expected deliverables result from each transition phase of the software development life cycle. Additionally, the article will explain the benefits of intentional discovery, implementation, and measurement of reusable architecture.
Managing Increased Complexity
Anyone who has worked in the software industry will tell you that developing business productivity software is very challenging. Often, companies become overwhelmed by the lack of consistency and bloated costs that typical software cycles create. There are four syndromes that contribute to this increased difficulty:
- The moving-target syndrome: This syndrome is an unavoidable aspect in the software industry. There will always be a constant evolution of frameworks, patterns, strategies, and technologies. This continuum will often make your effective solution today an ineffective one at some point in the future.
- The perfect-storm syndrome: It is always difficult for any company to find the right number of developers, at the right time, with the appropriate vision and budget. If any one of these items is not correct the solution will suffer and can potentially become ineffective.
- The Goldilocks syndrome: One of the joys in solving logical problems is discovering the most innovative and efficient solution for a technical problem. However, this delivery rarely considers the right solution based on cost. As a result, many solutions are overengineered or underengineered. Very often this engineering is a matter of perspective, and striking a balance between the best solution and the right solution is challenging.
- Grandpa's favorite-chair syndrome: It is in our nature to gravitate toward things that we understand. That is why software is often architected to avoid as much change as possible. The limited risk that comes from using code that has already been proven to work is immeasurable. This approach will result in solutions that are added to in unnatural ways.
Adding to this complexity is the migration from consolidated, monolithic applications to highly-scalable, distributed systems. As the strategy has changed (see Figure 1), so has the focus. Today we need to find an even higher level of abstraction than objects or components. It is based on this need that we introduced repeatable architecture patterns and frameworks. The all-important transition to an architecture-driven process is a catalyst for the discovery and publication of these reusable artifacts.
Software is not the first industry to see its output increase in complexity over time. It only takes a moment to consider how much more complicated current automotive or construction deliverables are now versus 50 years ago. How have these industries managed to meet the high demand for their increasingly complex product? The answer lies in the shift away from pure craftsmanship and toward manufacturing in both instances. By capturing and repeating best practices for building well-known aspects, the limited resources available for development are able to focus on those things that are truly unique.
Based on the preceding information, it is clear that the software industry is faced with a similar dilemma. The complexity has increased, and at the same time the demand has skyrocketed. The concept of software manufacturing is not a new idea. In fact, there are many well-respected software engineers that have been giving it thought since the late 1970s. However, until recently most of the frameworks, patterns, and strategies were still very immature.
We stand at the cusp of a major revolution in how business productivity software is delivered. As businesses begin to use architecture to drive their delivery of software they will find ways to isolate consistent portions of their enterprise applications and capture them in a way that can be reapplied through automation. These concepts provide the best chance to date to help deliver quality software while managing all of the inherent complexity that comes with it.
Defining the Vision/Scope for All Process Iterations
One of the first steps for any organization interested in moving to an architecture-driven process is to define the vision and scope for the enterprise architecture. Without this definition, it becomes almost impossible for solution architects to make good decisions about where and when to introduce architectural patterns. You might think that service-oriented architecture (SOA) is an example of the vision for your enterprise architecture. In reality, SOA is an example of a delivery strategy that can help you to adhere to the vision for your enterprise architecture.
A vision statement should be concise and devoid of any implementation biases. The vision statement should "paint a picture" of where the architecture team wants the applications to evolve to. Here are some examples that could be used to help focus the architecture team as solutions are being delivered using architecture:
- All application deliverables will focus on quality through embracing and extending proven enterprise architecture artifacts. Over time, new solutions should be built completely through composition and customization of enterprise architecture frameworks.
- All application deliverables will efficiently use resources within the enterprise infrastructure to solve business productivity demands. Using tailored tools and processes, 75 percent of a custom application will be constructed, tested, and deployed automatically.
Figure 1. Time-phased trending in application architecture patterns
The scope of your enterprise architecture is separate from the vision. What needs to be considered when defining the scope of the enterprise architecture is whether or not the practices and patterns that are being managed by the solution architects are within specific technology disciplines, business areas, or application styles. The broader the scope the more challenging it is to manage complexity. However, if the scope is too narrow, you will risk decreasing the impact your architecture patterns can have. The best way to manage scope is to determine a grouping strategy based on variation. For example, the strategies and patterns of the engineering and infrastructure group may be very different than those of the application-delivery group. As long as there is a shared strategy for how to consistently apply those patterns, managing them separately is acceptable, which starts to show the reason vision and scope for enterprise architecture are so important.
In most, if not all, organizations it takes a combination of people with different spheres of concern to deliver applications successfully. If the burden of managing the architecture vision and scope is not shared, then the leadership and direction will become fragmented and inconsistent. Other strategists in the organization will spend less time debating issues if synergies are found between the various scoping groups. This synergy is without a doubt one of the most important steps in starting to build architecturally sound applications.
Figure 2. The product line development approach
Building Your Assembly Line
An architecture-driven process is focused primarily on shifting the control for delivering solutions to the architecture team. Specifically, the solution architect that is embedded in the delivery team will be responsible for determining how quickly an application can move through the phases of development. This determination is primarily in an effort to work on strategically delivering applications more efficiently in the future. So how then do solution architects "prove their worth" within each of these iterations? This value is where software factories and production line delivery of applications is key. The architecture team is working constantly to construct and improve on the software assembly line within one of the predefined enterprise architecture scope groups.
The key components of a software factory or product line are all focused on one key goal: abstract those portions of the application that do not vary, and guide the creation of variants by using pragmatic constraints. Here are the four core pillars of the software-factory initiative (see Resources):
- Software product lines: Architects must focus on how to find those portions of an application that can be abstracted because they are consistent. Once they are discovered they should be delivered ahead of the products that will use them. This approach promotes an intentional step of finding and delivering reusability. In all likelihood these assets will fall in line with the scoping groups defined for your enterprise architecture.
- Guidance in context: There are a couple of levels of variability when it comes to components within the software product line. One level is that which can be automatically built "hands free." These components are usually very low level and require essentially no decision making by the product-delivery team. The next level is that which can vary in a controlled way, which is where guidance comes in. When a product developer can choose from a set of constraints to build an application component from a finite set of variations, the software factory should support that. This variability is not the whole picture though. Also consider the "in context" portion of this process. When you can provide context-sensitive guidance, there are benefits to be gained from providing something as simple as tailored help!
- Architecture frameworks: Frameworks (often described using a factory schema) within your software factory provide a way to group all of the building blocks that will be used by the product developers. There are a number of components in any software deliverable that are potentially reusable. The framework will capture and deliver best practices in an effective way.
- Model-driven development (MDD): Models provide a mechanism for representing complicated software components using visual abstractions. This mechanism typically helps simplify the design, development, and support of those components. Making models a critical component of your software factory requires you to think differently about design documentation. Models must always reflect the current running code if they are to remain useful in the support and maintenance of software. Historically that has not been the case, and MDD is an effort to fix that shortcoming.
As an enterprise architecture proponent, each of these pillars is critically important. Every product that is delivered will look to extend and/or consume numerous portions of the software factory. As a solution architect these are the tools you bring to the table to help drive every product toward well-established best practices. Without these tools every product has to be built from scratch. This style is often referred to as "one off" and is considered very inefficient.
As an enterprise matures in its architecture-driven practices so do the components of the software factory. Collecting new enhancements and delivering new versions of the factory components facilitates perpetual innovation through the architecture team. The hardest part about transitioning toward an architecture-driven process and a software-factory approach is starting. We discussed previously the scope definition for the enterprise architecture. Scope continues to be a basic element of concern for all software-factory deliverables. In the case of business productivity applications economies of scope and scale can both be achieved:
- Economies of scope: To justify the cost of an architecture component it has to be useful to a number of products. One strategy for identifying components that exhibit economies of scope is to group products based on implementation style. For example, if your applications will be built using a distributed model focusing on Web services across tiers, then it will be beneficial to build a factory component that can help guide the delivery of a Web service. Very often these stereotypes are common across every application. Another possible economy of scope benefit is the delivery of enterprise services. If a large number of applications depend on the same data or business subprocesses, then it may be an ideal candidate for a services-based approach.
- Economies of scale: It is very rare to find circumstances where business productivity applications can benefit from economies of scale. If a factory component is going to have an economy of scale your organization will need to benefit from that component being created the same way multiple times. An example could be enterprise data dictionaries that are made available as part of every new data dictionary. If the component can be reapplied "as is," then it can be said to exhibit economies of scale.
Even when a solution architect is in control of the progress of product delivery, it is still challenging to find reusable factory components. This difficulty is especially true when you consider cost justification. A product line methodology is required to discover factory components with broad enough scope. When a factory product line phase is introduced, the building blocks can be built, and the architecture team can get ahead of the delivery curve. Without this methodology, there are always difficult cost/benefit decisions that determine the architectural direction.
What eventually forms are two separate delivery teams focused on completely different aspects of software. One team is responsible for envisioning, designing, delivering, and training of reusable assets in the scoping group. The other team(s) is responsible for learning, consuming, and giving feedback on those components. The most important item to note in Figure 2 is that the product assembly line team must be given the opportunity to get ahead of the product delivery teams. Once established, it becomes easier to drive work through the feedback loop that will ensue. If the teams begin too much work without a clear understanding of the foundation then it will be impossible to avoid one-off project development.
This concept of grouping applications based on commonality into product groups or families is a critical step in moving toward an architecture-driven process and software-factory development. These product families should have dedicated architecture resources and common infrastructure. These families can also help provide consistency in the patterns that are discovered and applied in an enterprise. Typically, the context and forces will remain consistent within a product group. Architects are able to benefit from the lessons learned when applying these solutions to similar application contexts. This consistency translates into effectiveness within the architecture group.
Figure 3. Architecture-driven processes require architecture-focused deliverables during every transition.
It is impossible to talk about processes or reusability without mentioning agility. Does driving delivery through architecture create an agile process? In the traditional sense, an architecture-driven process would probably not be considered an agile process. However, if you are looking at the fundamental goal of an agile process, architecture-driven processes and software factories do translate into higher productivity and adaptability levels. Based on this fact, it is safe to say that driving a process with architecture can foster agility in application delivery.
Always remember that developing a technical solution is simply a series of refinements and abstractions. Depending on your frame of reference you may be attempting to decompose or refine a business problem, or you may be trying to design higher-level abstractions to demonstrate what low-level machine instructions should do with user input. Developers and analysts will always struggle to find the sweet spot when it comes to abstraction and refinement. Too much refinement and time is wasted; too much abstraction and complexity is increased—another application of the Goldilocks syndrome.
In the end, a business productivity application needs to be able to respond to change. Rarely does a product team know the final picture of a solution during the initial release of an application. Embracing change through planning for iterations is paramount to the success of any delivery process. Architecture-driven processes naturally move the product-family delivery team toward iterative development by introducing a feedback loop for the factory components.
Less code typically results in higher productivity. Architecture-driven processes and software factories are built on the concept of abstracting what is already known and guiding what varies, which is a powerful strategy in managing complexity. Consistent and reusable software combined with an up-front understanding that an application will change is what being agile is all about!
Prerequisites for an Architecture-Driven Process
There are a number of prerequisites before you can begin an architecture-driven process, some have been mentioned previously, and others are listed here as a sort of readiness checklist:
- A role on the project must be focused on the application architecture. This role requires knowledge of existing enterprise architecture patterns and being dedicated to helping deliver applications that meet an enterprise architecture vision.
- A long-term vision for architecture of the enterprise should be established. This vision will help to simplify decision making and support making good decisions that will integrate well with the overall enterprise vision. This vision is articulated through enterprise architecture road maps, business capability matrices, and enterprise framework maturity models.
- Well-defined deliverables must be established for each of the transitions. These can include architecture strategy documents, pattern templates, reusable component analysis reports, and an enterprise architecture library.
- There must be agreement from the project sponsors that transitions among phases cannot take place if the agreed-upon architecture deliverables are not complete. Otherwise, the drive toward expedient delivery can often short-circuit any architecture-driven effort.
- An agreed-upon strategy for resolving architectural anomalies should exist before starting. This agreement will help to mitigate the risk of becoming paralyzed by any lack of "buy in" for the enterprise architecture initiatives. Additionally, this risk-aware approach will help avoid application teams succumbing to antipatterns to meet expedient delivery demands.
Once these prerequisites have been satisfied you can safely begin delivering architecture-focused applications. The tactical introduction of architecture deliverables will ensure that you take the time to proactively build or consume reusable architectural components.
As applications are delivered in any organization, some type of delivery process must be followed. The high-level steps shown in Figure 3 represent those that are commonly found in all development life cycles. It is in the transitions between these phases where architecture should become a focus, and it is this focus that will help your enterprise transition away from one-off and siloed application delivery and toward the cohesive development of applications that adhere to an enterprise architecture vision.
Transition 1 (envisioning to detailed design): In this early phase of the project it is critical to start looking for already existing architectural assets (patterns, services, framework components, and guidelines) that can be consumed by the new application. This search will bring to the surface questions about availability, performance, and maturity of these existing components. As an architect, the focus on reuse should help to drive the initial architecture strategy documentation. Delivering a plan that helps the application deliver a high-quality application that leverages as much of the existing enterprise architecture as possible is how you measure your success. Deliverables might include:
- Architecture strategy overview: an enterprise architecture component consumption report, expected enterprise architecture variants, and planned architecture pattern usage report
- Service-level change requests for existing components
- Recommendations for new enterprise architecture components
Transition 2 (detailed design to construction): Once the initial strategy is in place the detailed design can be built to realize the high-level architecture vision. Through a series of refinements, the architecture strategy is either adopted or modified based on the context in which it is applied, which is where the architect role on the project becomes amplified. Helping the project team to make practical decisions about the modifications to the enterprise architecture standards should be his or her focus. In most cases the existing standards should be used as is to avoid inconsistency and added complexity.
It is not always possible to use the existing architecture assets in their current state, and revision requests are sure to be needed. There are also new architectural patterns and styles that can be discovered during this phase. Key deliverables during this transition include architectural component change requests, a new architectural pattern definition, recommendations for new enterprise architecture components, and a revised architecture strategy overview.
Transition 3 (construction to stabilization): Once the application has been built, the focus shifts to quality and post-implementation analysis. To continue to gain widespread acceptance of the architecture patterns being applied, the successes and failures should be documented and communicated to the sponsors of the application. As the patterns being used mature, the likelihood of failures diminishes. The goal here is to show how much time was saved and how much quality was introduced by the focus on architecture. Deliverables include a reusable, assets-consumed overview; a change/extension cost analysis; and an existing asset improvement report.
Transition 4 (stabilization to next iteration): An effort to communicate best-of-breed solutions back to your company is a critical part of being focused on improvement. Once the application has stabilized, the architect should go through an exercise that helps to educate the enterprise to the new patterns and antipatterns discovered during this application's life cycle. Promoting best practices and cross-training other project teams are the only ways to ensure perpetual knowledge growth in your organization. The key deliverables in this phase are mainly for enterprise education, and they include a revised, enterprise architecture library catalog; a cross-team, architectural best practices session; and training materials for new architectural patterns.
Taking the Next Step Toward Industrialization
Once an organization has practiced architecture-driven delivery and considers the process mature, there are steps that can be taken to automate the delivery of applications. All of the architectural components that are delivered as part of the product line are ideal candidates for automation. These components will quickly go through a number of iterations and their consistency will become clearer as the product line team has to adapt to product-level variations.
Not until you understand these variations and establish the constraints should you remove the code completely from the product developers. Understanding what to abstract and automate is complicated and requires some level of trial and error. Many code-generation techniques appear on the surface to be beneficial, but always remember that a developer's confidence in generated code can be lost in an instant. Managing this perception requires a partnership with product developers through some process iterations and guided adoption of best practices.
This next step requires sophisticated tool support. These tools must be capable of providing an open API for developing model-driven tools, integrated wizards for guidance, and context-based capabilities to seamlessly incorporate architecture best practices into the product developers' workspace. These tools have the ability to change the productivity levels of application developers immensely.
Over time the percentage of well-known application components will increase and in parallel so will the automation benefit. Architects will always be attracted to automation for architecture components, but be careful to first understand what it is that you are automating. Most modern tools do a great job at creating separation between automated tool output and custom code, but that separation does not fix the issue of perception or accuracy.
To maintain momentum during product delivery you cannot solve the same problems over and over. The cure comes in the form of creating and guiding consumption of codified architectural best practices. Adopting a process that is driven by architecture will shift application delivery into a more proactive "prepare for the future" mindset. With the increased complexity of and demand for business productivity applications comes a need to transition away from one-off development. Most, if not all, engineering disciplines have learned this lesson and will mimic the success of previous iterations. The application development world is no different. An architecture-driven process will facilitate the collection of the key building blocks of productivity.
The seemingly unattainable goals of software industrialization are quickly becoming a reality. The software factories movement makes great strides in giving companies a way to measure the improvement or value proposition for architecture. Once a repeatable artifact is discovered, its replayability and variability have to be evaluated before absorbing the cost of building a guidance package or a designer. Discovering consistency, increasing productivity, and embracing change are the backbone of agility in application development. Combined, architecture-driven delivery and software factories will help lead us toward the next generation of software development.
About the Author
Tom Fuller is CTO and senior SOA consultant at Blue Arch Solutions Inc., and an architectural consulting, training, and solution provider based in Tampa, FL. Tom was recently given the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award in the Visual Developer, Solution Architect discipline. He is also the current president of the Tampa Bay chapter of the International Association of Software Architects (IASA), holds a MCSD.NET certification, and manages a community site dedicated to SOA, Web services, and Windows Communication Foundation (formerly "Indigo"). He has a series of articles published recently in The Architecture Journal, Active Software Professional Alliance, and SQL Server Standard publications. Tom also speaks at many user groups in the southeastern U.S. Visit http://www.SOApitstop.com for more information, and e-mail Tom.
"Combine Patterns and Modeling to Implement Architecture-Driven Development"
Cusumano, Michael. Japan's Software Factories: A Challenge to U.S. Management. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1991.
Wegner, Peter. Research Directions in Software Technology, "Conference Proceedings, 3rd International Conference on Software Engineering." Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1978.
Greenfield, Jack, Keith Short, Steve Cook, and Stuart Kent. Software Factories: Assembling Applications with Patterns, Models, Frameworks, and Tools. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2004.
Clements, Paul, and Linda Northrop. Software Product Lines. Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley Professional, 2002.
This article was published in the Architecture Journal, a print and online publication produced by Microsoft. For more articles from this publication, please visit the Architecture Journal website.


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Located in Vienna (Favoriten), Birg-Cyrus is close to Swiss Garden, Belvedere, and Secession Building. Also nearby are Vienna State Opera and Leopold Museum.
Hotel Features.
Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. Additional amenities include multilingual staff, tour/ticket assistance, and a safe deposit box at the front desk.
The 20 guestrooms at Birg-Cyrus include safes. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels. In addition, amenities available on request include hair dryers and irons/ironing boards.
Since you pretty much need to use the metro in Vienna no matter where you stay, this…
Hotel check in was good. Strange hotel though, very odd layout, bathroom and toilet were…
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Which federal agencies packs the most online punch? You might think that's hard to quantify, but Klout.com -- a service that scores Twitter feeds and other social media accounts for influence -- has some answers for feds.
NASA recently outscored all other federal agencies in online social clout, earning 80 out of 100 on the Klout index of online influence, according to a new report.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency ranked in second place, with a Klout score of 75, followed by a tie for third place by the U.S. Marine Corps, 72, and US Agency for International Development, also 72.
The May 14 report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government was authored by Ines Mergel, assistant professor of public administration at Syracuse University.
Titled "Working the Network: A Manager's Guide for Using Twitter in Government," it aims to help federal agencies develop a strategy and policies for effectively using the Twitter social media platform.
As part of the report, Mergel compiled online social influence scores from the free service for 34 federal agencies as of January 2012.
Klout uses a proprietary algorithm to gauge influence—a combination of popularity, reach and engagement—primarily for accounts on Twitter but also for accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn and other networks. It was not immediately clear from the research whether all agencies were being scored just on Twitter usage. The Klout scores change daily to reflect the day's activities.
Klout also labels the Twitter users into categories by the type of influence they display.
NASA, for example, is considered a Taste Maker, described as a user who stays ahead of the trends and helps set them.
FEMA and the Marine Corps, on the other hand, are considered broadcasters. Klout says the broadcasters distribute content that "spreads like wildfire" and is valued by the recipients.
USAID is labeled a "pundit," for which the Klout.com website says, "You don't just share news, you create the news."
The State Department, with a score of 71, is called a "thought leader," defined as a user who shares news and opinions and is relied upon to help understand issues.
Other high-scoring agencies on Klout include the US Army, 67; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 66; Federal Communications Commission, 66; Homeland Security, 64; Education, 64; Health and Human Services, 62; Justice, 62; Veterans Affairs, 62; and Defense, 61.
"While the scoring mechanism is not transparent, Klout scores are currently providing the best insights available and can help in understanding how well an agency performs on Twitter," Mergel wrote in the report. "A comparison with the communication strategy and overall mission of the agency can then provide additional insights."
About the Author
Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer covering government 2.0, homeland security and other IT policies for Federal Computer Week.
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Unisys Federal Systems' Venkatapathi Puvvada, this year's Eagle award winner for industry, stresses the importance of community.
Experts tell committee that business models, not technology, are the main obstacle to better sharing across systems.
Protests have delayed SEWP V, but industry experts say the contract vehicle offers agencies service and value that are hard to find.
The power of the individual informs FCW's coverage each and every day, but with the Federal 100, we take time to really spotlight and celebrate it. Get to know each of this year's winners.
The latest version of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act purportedly protects companies from liability and individuals from government intrusion.
Popular CIO is headed for the private sector.
The Census Bureau hasn't established a time frame for its cloud computing plans, including testing for scalability, security, and privacy protection, as well as determining a budget for cloud services.
President Obama's proposal to boost government coordination with the private sector got a warm welcome in the House Homeland Security Committee.
The spy agency wants to better integrate cybersecurity into its traditional human intelligence operations.
Is this what our tax money is supposed to be spend on - gaining on-line clout? Is it really NASA's mission to perform well on Twitter? Why are our tax dollars being spent on gaining influence for these agencies? When will people start looking closely at actual performance instead of popularity due primarily to a made up image?
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12th Annual Spores N More Mushroom Festival
Come and enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the elusive morel mushroom or come and bid at the auction. Friday night kicks off the event with a welcome dinner, reception and speaker in Windsor. Saturday morning, come and join the hunt for a fee. If you like morels but not the hunt, come to the auction and bid for your winning batch. The 2015 hunt and auction will be based out of Shelbyville's Forest Park.
5 West Coffee & Wine Lounge
Take a break and enjoy a full-service espresso bar, premium wines, and craft beers. Treat yourself to a selection of pastries and appetizers after a busy day shopping in Amish Country.
African American Civil War Soldiers Monument
This unique artwork is one of only a handful of sculptured tributes to the African American Civil War soldier in the entire United States. Commissioned by the City of Decatur, the work was designed and created by renowned artist, Preston Jackson. Jackson created several concepts for the statue and allowed the citizens of Decatur to vote to select the final design.
African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society of Illinois
AACGS promotes and provides resources and education on the history of the African American. Embracing all cultures, it offers (in part), genealogy workshops, museum displays, storytelling, essay & poetry contests and the promotion of Cultural Arts. Three main annual community events sponsored are Black History Month, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, and Kwanzaa Celebration
Albert Taylor Theatre at Millikin University
The Albert Taylor Theatre is located in the historic Shilling Hall. The 275-seat auditorium was built as Millikin University opened in 1902. Renovations to the theatre were completed in 2006 and include Handicapped Accessible and Wheel Chair Accessible seating. Annual productions by the Millikin University Department of Theatre & Dance, School of Music, and Opera Program are all held in this theatre. Lectures, classes, and rehearsals are also held in the facility.
Unique ambiance and cuisine will provide you with an unforgettable Chinese and Hawaiian dining experience. Great food, wonderful service & family-friendly.
Ambero Antiques and Decorative Arts
Located on the west side of the historical Courthouse square in Charleston, IL, Ambero Antiques & Decorative Arts provides authentic antique, vintage, and contemporary furnishings at fair prices. Here you will find an eclectic mix of furniture, mirrors, art, ceramics, metalwares, textiles, and jewelry.
Ameri Host Inn - Tuscola
59 rooms with 2 jacuzzi suites, indoor pool, free deluxe continental breakfast.
America's Best Value Inn - Decatur
60 rooms, restaurant nearby, small meeting rooms, free movie channel, newly remodeled.
Amish Adventures & Stellar Tours, Inc
Amish Adventures will give you an up close and personal tour of the Illinois Amish culture and religion as you travel back in time along our quaint country roads with our professional and informed tour guide. To help our visitors learn more about the Amish culture, we offer a variety of tours that are customized to fit your itinerary. Tours of Amish homes, Amish farms, Amish woodworker's shop, a meal in an Amish home and a Step-on Guided Tour of the Amish countryside!
Amish Country Heirlooms, LLC
Area's largest of hand-crafted Amish and oak furniture, collectible prints, and accessories, along with Country Dreams furniture exhibit.
Amish Country Tours
A step on guide will accompany your tour of the Amish countryside. The tours will also include meals in Amish homes, and Amish home, buggy shop, dairy farm and woodworking tours. Additional highlights include an Amish museum, local attractions, restaurants, and accommodations.
Amish Country Tours with ACM Tours
ACM Tours is a full service, receptive tour guide company with many special services available at no additional cost. We literally open the door to fabulous Illinois Amish Country! We are ready to assist you with meals, attractions, lodging and step on guide service. We have available trained, professional, local step-on guides who are well versed in the history, customs and folklore of this most unique part of Illinois.
Amishland Red Barn Buffet
400 seat award-winning buffet with local recipes, Amish bread, desserts, apple butter, butcher shop meats and great Amish country decor.
Amishland's Country Restaurant
Enjoy Atwood's meat services, award winning meats. Home cooked meals include drink and dessert. Open for breakfast and lunch.
Amishland's General Store
Nostalgic general store filled with Amish wood crafts, quilts, food products and souvenirs.
Amishland's Illinois Shop
Official Illinois cabin featuring Illinois information literature, Lincoln memorabilia, Illinois artisans and Illinois food products and souvenirs.
Andrew Carnegie Library - The Arcola Public Library
An original Andrew Carnegie built in 1905. The library boasts all of its original classic revival architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Anna Bethel Fisher Rock Garden
Created in 1927 from an old sand pit across the road from Lake Decatur, the city's oldest garden was extensively renovated in 1992. Its resurrected look features secluded paths leading through rocky terraces planted with unusual trees, and landscapes brimming with colorful perennials. Towering bald Cypress trees, planted in the 1920s, still reign over these delightful grounds.
Anne Lloyd Gallery - Madden Arts Center
The warm, welcoming and slightly funky Madden Arts Center is a richly renovated hub where the Decatur Area Arts Council makes its home. The building houses galleries, classrooms, an art shop, photo lab and rehearsal spaces. The Anne Lloyd Gallery showcases local exhibits as well as extraordinary traveling collections. The gallery spotlights an International Arts Experience exhibition over an 8-week period each summer. Participating in the downtown Decatur "art walks" the gallery holds a "First Friday" reception on the first Friday evening of each month, showcasing a different artist or artistic medium each time.
Annual Arthur Quilt Show & Quilt Auction
View the quilts, including the vendor area, and take in demonstrations as well. Lunch available. A double wedding ring quilt will be raffled. Quilt auction held April 26th at noon. Presented by Arthur Area Association of Commerce at the Otto Center.
Annual Bluegrass Jam
It's bluegrass time again at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, with both fans and performers gathering on Sunday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Musicians from Illinois and Indiana will converge at the site for a day of jamming with informal groups playing along the creek throughout the day. The site's volunteers will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs and more with proceeds benefit the historical and interpretive programs at the site. Anyone with a love of this unique style of music is welcome to join one of the many the groups playing in the park.
Arches Antique Marketplace
Antiques of all sizes and descriptions, from books and clothing to kitchen utensils and baby items.
Arcola Architectural Tours
Arcola is a pristine showcase of small-town America that still retains many examples of more than a century of architectural changes in the American home. Two tours daily from April through October.


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Much accomplished; much more to do.
Chuck Slocum is president of the Williston Group, a Twin Cities management consulting firm.
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