Q&A: ScaleOut Software’s Dave Brinker on Scaling In-Memory for Big Data Financial Applications
In-memory technology is finding new applications in the financial markets and in big data processing. We found out how ScaleOut Software is addressing these needs from the company’s COO Dave Brinker. Q: How did ScaleOut Software get started – what’s in the name and what is its focus? A: ScaleOut Software was founded by William...
A Recruiter’s View: On FPGAs, Big Data And Women
Three very interesting features have emerged in fintech recruitment in the first trimester of 2013. The on off nature of FPGA development has led to cluster hiring in the space, big data has taken strides forward and there has been a noticeable improvement in diversity as companies take steps to add more women to their teams. Suspicion...
Q&A: Gil Tene of Azul Systems on Why Java Works for Low Latency
It’s a bit of a paradox that Java is so widely used across all applications and industries, and yet is often cited as not suitable for the automated trading space. IntelligentTradingTechnology.com caught up with Gil Tene, CTO and Co-founder of Azul Systems, to find out more about Java performance, and how to improve it. Q: To...
Q&A: Vibhoosh Gupta of GE Intelligent Platforms on Packet Processors for Low Latency HFT Applications
Hardware acceleration means more than FPGAs. Network packet processors are also being adopted in the financial markets to boost the performance of trading applications. IntelligentTradingTechnology.com talked to Vibhoosh Gupta, business leader at GE Intelligent Platforms, to find out more. Q: Let’s begin with the basics: What is a packet processor, and how does it compare functionally...
Zeptonics Hit By Legal Ruling; Cannot Sell Ultra-Low-Latency Products
Australian financial trading technology vendor Zeptonics has been directed by the Federal Court of Australia to assign the ownership of certain of its products – including its ZeptoLink fanout device and ZeptoMatch matching engine – to proprietary trading firm Zomojo, which claimed ownership of them. It is considering appealing the decision, but for now it...
Trading Ecosystems and Liquidity
Liquidity is King Liquidity is a vital, if nebulous, conundrum. For a securities exchange, it is of the essence. Traders love it. Corporate issuers consider it crucial when choosing where to list. Yet at times it can depend on nothing more substantial than market sentiment. It is proverbially ‘sticky’ – liquidity attracts liquidity, yet it...
Q&A: John Lockwood of Algo-Logic Systems on Reducing Time-to-Market for FPGA Apps
While the debate on whether to leverage FPGAs versus travel the Intel CPU roadmap for cutting-edge performance continues, there seems to be a common view that developing for FPGAs can be challenging. Looking to overcome that challenge is Algo-Logic Systems, with pre-built functionality for automated trading functions. IntelligentTradingTechnology.com spoke to the company’s founder and CEO...
Q&A: Chris Lees of FixSpec on the “Myth” of Standard FIX
The FIX protocol has been around for years – since 1992 in fact – and is pretty much ubiquitous in the world of electronic trading. But it is still difficult to implement for many. IntelligentTradingTechnology.com spoke to Chris Lees, founder of London-based startup FixSpec, to find out what the issues are, and what his company is...
Analysis: Inside Supermicro’s Hyper-Speed HFT Server
Super Micro Computer last month introduced a new line of “Hyper-Speed” servers, pitching them at high frequency trading applications. The company says they work by “maximising processing power and precisely tuning hardware and firmware to attain up to 30% lower latency.” And just as importantly, the servers feature “high reliability as a primary design focus.”...
Performance by Numbers: Lessons on Latency
When sizing up a data sheet, what numbers pop out at you? IOPS? GB/s? Latency? If you’re like most IT professionals, you might be starting to pay more attention to latency. In case you’re still wondering what all the fuss is about, let’s look at why low latency is so important, why it’s a challenge...