title: Using websphere portal vs spring mvc (Guidelines to determine if a portlet solution is warrantied)
body: <p>We are in the process of working on our second generation of our eCommerce site.  The contracting firm that has been brought in is pushing for the use of WebSphere Portal vs using JSP/Spring MVC etc to build out the UI part.  </p>
  
  <p>Many parts of the new release will be based on Version 1.</p>
  
  <p>The contracting firm is an IBM partner - so I assume that there is a conflict in interest in determining the best solution for the UI.</p>
  
  <p>So, I am reaching out to the group to get a feel as to is using IBM WebSphere Portal worth the money - ROI?</p>
  
  <p>Going forward we will be using an off shore company to maintain the application once it goes live - so we have to consider those skills sets.</p>
  
  <p>We provide Web Sites to Consignors to allow them to sell/auction their inventory of Vehicles.  The underlaying Business Logic is pretty much the same for each consignor and is handled in a separate tier.  The issue is that currently we have created a core set of UI and Controllers which are then extended into a Consignors project.  Each Consignor "Store Front" is a separate deployment.</p>
  
  <p>Here is what I know or have been told about Portal:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>IBM WebSphere Portal OTB will handle the basic security - user log in and the portlets that they can see (Spring Security can do the same thing)</p></li>
  <li><p>IBM WebSphere Portal OTB can handle the theming or re-skinning the portlets based on what company the user is associated with.  (Standard UI practices can achieve the same thing)</p></li>
  <li><p>IBM WebSphere Portal can provide re-use of Portlets (Not sure I buy this since so far each customer has demanded their own screen layouts along with the data collected and how it is displayed)</p></li>
  <li><p>IBM WebSphere Portal can help with time to market - That is start with a base reference implementation and then show them what can be changed in a 45 - 60 day turn around. </p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I am open to anyone who can also provide more benefits of its usage.</p>
  
  <p><strong><h2>Follow on Question</h2></strong></p>
  
  <p>In response to a statement made by @Bozho - what are the guidelines if any to determine if a portlet solution is warrantied.</p>