Aldon Inc.
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Predecessor | Aldon Computer Group |
| Founded | January 1, 1979 in Emeryville, California, United States |
| Founder | Albert Magid, Don Parr |
| Headquarters | Waltham, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Daniel Magid (CEO from 1996) |
| Products | Aldon Lifecycle Manager, Deployment Manager, Community Manager, CMDB |
| Parent | Rocket Software |
Aldon (previously known as Aldon Computer Group) operates as a division of Rocket Software, focusing on software change management solutions designed for enterprise application lifecycle management (ALM) and software change management (SCM) sectors. Based in Waltham, Massachusetts with offices worldwide, Aldon's product lineup features Aldon Lifecycle Manager, Deployment Manager, Community Manager, and CMDB. The company dedicates more than a quarter of its revenue to research and development. Its offerings facilitate enterprise-level software configuration and change management throughout IT business processes.
1979–1989: Origins
Established in 1979 by Albert Magid and Don Parr in Emeryville, California, Aldon initially aimed at midrange software developers by providing infrastructure tools tailored for complex project management.
The company's inaugural product, Compare (1982), served as a file and database comparison utility for the IBM mainframe environment. In 1983, Aldon introduced S/Compare, recognized as the first tool in the market for documenting source code changes, along with O/Compare for object file comparisons. Initially developed for the HP 3000 platform, S/Compare employed sophisticated algorithms to identify code changes with greater precision than competing products, allowing clients to integrate updates into purchased software packages effectively.
S/Compare eventually transformed into Aldon Harmonizer, an advanced source comparison and merging tool that supported concurrent development by combining simultaneous edits from multiple programmers. By the late 1980s, Harmonizer was adapted for IBM's System/38 minicomputer—a forerunner to the AS/400 (present-day IBM i)—signaling Aldon's strategic move into the IBM i development arena.
For its first 24 years, Aldon's headquarters were located in downtown Oakland, California before relocating to Emeryville on February 18, 2003.
1989–1999: Adoption of IBM iSeries and Expansion to Multiple Platforms
In 1990, Aldon introduced Aldon/CMS, a software change management system tailored for iSeries development; this product was later rebranded as Aldon Lifecycle Manager (iSeries edition).
Daniel Magid assumed the CEO role in 1996, bringing expertise from his tenure at IBM where he oversaw marketing and sales of midrange computing systems.
By 1997, Aldon developed Aldon Affiniti—a process management solution supporting UNIX, Windows, Linux, Mainframe, and iSeries platforms. Launched in 1998 as Aldon Lifecycle Manager (Enterprise Edition) or LM(e), this product broadened both Aldon's portfolio and its market penetration.
2000–Present: Compliance Demands, SOA Integration, and Distributed Systems
Following regulatory enactments after 2004 such as Sarbanes–Oxley, industries including healthcare (HIPAA), finance (Gramm–Leach–Bliley), and banking (Basel II) increased their need for automated compliance solutions. Organizations sought robust SCM tools to navigate these stringent requirements.
In May 2004, Aldon shortened its corporate name and revamped its product suite branding to better reflect shifting market dynamics.
The release of Aldon Lifecycle Manager 5.0 in February 2005 introduced a multiplatform edition that allowed source code repositories on AIX or Linux servers beyond the traditional iSeries environment. This update enhanced compatibility with IBM, Eclipse, and Microsoft development tools and expanded Aldon's reach into distributed system markets. The fiscal year 2005 saw a revenue increase of 28%, largely driven by these enhancements.
In January 2007, Aldon became part of Microsoft's Midrange Alliance Program (MAP), supporting the modernization of legacy OS/400 applications to Windows platforms—a strategic initiative strengthening its position in multi-platform software environments.
Updates released in May 2007 incorporated a graphical compare-and-merge tool within ALM that improved parallel development workflows through enhanced conflict resolution capabilities. These improvements facilitated enterprise-wide adoption by parent companies; notably, Nintendo of America selected Aldon Lifecycle Manager to oversee multi-platform corporate application development.
On May 7, 2007, private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners acquired Aldon in a significant investment transaction.
Marlin Equity subsequently sold Aldon to Rocket Software on March 22, 2011. This acquisition integrated Aldon's products into Rocket Software’s broader portfolio while expanding its international presence.
Products
Aldon specializes in solutions for enterprise application lifecycle management and IT service integration, featuring the following key offerings:
- Aldon Lifecycle Manager (available in Enterprise and IBM i Editions): Provides robust application configuration and change control capabilities, guaranteeing that all modifications undergo the correct procedures prior to being implemented in production.
- Aldon Community Manager: A comprehensive IT Service Desk platform designed to handle change requests, requirements, and incident management, automating processes to improve teamwork and ensure IT efforts support business goals.
- Aldon Deployment Manager: Complements Lifecycle Manager by automating the rollout of application components across various servers and environments during the software development process.
- Aldon CMDB: Serves as a unified repository for configuration items essential to IT Service Management, integrated with Community Manager to facilitate change management, asset tracking, and portfolio oversight.
Together, these products embody Aldon's commitment to providing cohesive solutions that enhance software development, deployment, and IT service operations for enterprise organizations.