Handwriting on the Wall Who Moved My Cheese? from Where Do I Find The Best Oracle Development Tool?
Peter Koletzke Technical Director & Principal Instructor
The Characters The Maze
3 4 The Maze Oracle Tools: The Good Old Days
IAF to SQL*Forms 2.0 to Oracle Forms 12c
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Oracle Tools: Today Agenda – Look for the Cheese Legacy Tools PL/SQL Web Toolkit ABCS Oracle Forms APEX Web Toolkit Post-Legacy Tools APEX ADF MAF MAF Cutting-edge Tools JET JET Oracle ADF ABCS Forms
7 8 PL/SQL Web Toolkit 12cR2 PL/SQL Web Toolkit Features • PL/SQL database packages HTP, HTF • Essentially HTML coding – E.g., htp.body() – You can create wrapper packages to make – Renders HTML: “
” construction easier • A URL invokes a PL/SQL procedure • No special tool (Notepad, vi) containing calls to HTP and HTF • Issuing SQL is super easy – The server’s mod_plsql plugin • The program runs in the database • Only for Apache servers like OAS • Very powerful if you know HTML well • WLS calls Oracle HTTP Server (OHS), which contains mod_plsql • Fine if you are satisfied with HTML’s docs.oracle.com/database/121/ADFNS/adfns_w capabilities eb.htm#ADFNS0159 10
PL/SQL Web Toolkit – Agenda – Look for the Cheese Development Experience
ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
11 12 Oracle Forms 12cR2 Oracle Forms Features • Part of Oracle Developer (Fusion • Scripting language inside the tool is Middleware) – Packaged with Oracle Reports PL/SQL • BI Publisher is an alternate reporting tool • Otherwise declarative • Declarative programming • Can call Java plugins • Server runs Forms Runtime servlet • Forms Runtime runs a compiled code file • Integrated with browser (.FMX) • Still part of Enterprise Business Suite • Form displays as a Java applet in the (EBS, Oracle Applications) browser • No HTML! • De-emphasized these days because of www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer- its proprietary nature tools/forms
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Oracle Forms – Development Experience Agenda – Look for the Cheese
ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
16 Application Express (APEX) APEX Features 5.0.1 • Free tool distributed with the database • Declarative programming – Installed by default with 11g and 12c – Similar to Oracle Forms • Implemented in PL/SQL • Vital user community • Runs in the browser – Lots of “traditional” Oracle shops use it • Generates PL/SQL • Highly evolved • A layer on top of the PL/SQL Web – Used for Oracle Cloud Services Toolkit • Supports mobile devices www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer- tools/apex • Issuing SQL is a non-issue https://apex.oracle.com/en/
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APEX Development Experience Agenda – Look for the Cheese
ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
20 Application Development ADF Features Framework 12cR2 • Wizards and layout editors • Oracle’s main Java-based development tool – Very “Forms-like” (development time, runtime) – Also, XML, Groovy, but less HTML – Developed for Oracle’s internal Forms developers • Positioned for enterprise-level applications • ADF is a meta-framework • Supports any Java framework – Development environment that encompasses • Includes frameworks many other frameworks – ADF Model, ADF Faces (View), ADF Controller, – Similar development “gestures” for any choice of ADF Business Components frameworks – Very highly evolved • The basis for Oracle Support website, • Used to build Oracle Cloud (f.k.a., “Fusion”) Enterprise Manager, SOA Suite, WebCenter applications
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ADF Development Experience ADF Variations: Oracle Enterprise Pack for Eclipse 12.2.1.1 • OEPE – Plug-in for Eclipse – Adds the ability to develop JEE code • Supports work in Eclipse for: – ADF, MAF, WebLogic, Spring, Coherence, OR mapping, web services, REST, Maven, cloud services www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer- tools/eclipse/
24 ADF Variations: ADF Essentials Bonus Tool: NetBeans 8.1 • Plug-in to JDeveloper or Eclipse 12.2.1.0 • Another Oracle Java development – With OEPE environment • Technologies included: • For Java code –ADF Faces – ADF Controller – ADF Model – ADF Business Components • Not for ADF • Main feature: “Free” ADF runtime • Super-active user community – On Glassfish (free app server) netbeans.org – Other app servers • Development environment parallels www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer- JDeveloper in richness tools/adf/overview/adfessentials-1719844.html
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NetBeans Development Experience Agenda – Look for the Cheese
ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
27 28 Mobile Application Framework MAF Features • MAF: formerly “ADF Mobile” 2.2.0 • Also available for Eclipse • Plug-in to JDeveloper • Offline database - SQLite • ADF development environment • Leverages mobile device features – Declarative programming – Camera, GPS, contacts, accelerometer – Java, HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript • Use current development skills • Produces mobile applications that can • Two flavors of development be run in iOS and Android (!) – Java-based: declarative, components http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/devel – HTML-based: programmatic, HTML5 oper-tools/maf/
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MAF Development Experience Agenda – Look for the Cheese
ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
32 Iowa Polls – the Real Results CodeEval Fact 5. Rubio • JavaScript usage has grown 25% in the past year (blog.codeeval.com/) 4. Carson • Fourth most popular language in 2015 3. Trump 2. Cruz 1. JavaScript
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GitHub Fact Tiobe Software Fact • #1 on GitHub for the past 3 years • Dec 2015 – JavaScript is “the programming – github.com/blog/2047-language-trends-on- language of the year” github – www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/
35 36 JavaScript Extension Toolkit JET Features •JET • Pure JavaScript coding • Simplifies Model-View-ViewModel – Secondarily: HTML5, CSS, SASS Syntactically Awesome development Style Sheets • Need to understand: – MVVM: also called, model-view-binder – Knockout.js, jQuery, CSS3, RequireJS (AMD) • IDE is Notepad or vi – Derived from MVC, • Used and refined internally at Oracle for 2-3 – Uses binder (viewmodel) instead of years controller www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/jet/index. html – VM is the layer that binds data to the UI • JET vs. ADF https://blogs.oracle.com/ jdeveloperpm/entry/oracle_ adf_and_oracle_jet
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More JET Features JET Development Experience - 1
• “Modular” – that is, lots of prebuilt code 1. Copy the HTML component code from the cookbook samples 2. Paste into the file’s editor – Cookbook on Oracle’s website • Built on the Knockout.js framework – A JavaScript library • Rich components, e.g. data visualization • If upgrades in the framework or libraries occur, you are responsible for recoding – No automatic migration of code as in ADF
39 40 JET Development Experience - 2 Agenda – Look for the Cheese
3. Copy the JavaScript component code 4. Paste into the file’s editor ABCS
APEX Web Toolkit
MAF
JET Oracle ADF Forms
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Application Builder Cloud Service ABCS Features • ABCS – part of SaaS • Developed for non-programmers – Currently futureware – “next year” – To solve the app dev backlog • Not to be confused with Fusion Middleware • Can be extended with JavaScript ABCS - Application Business Connector Services • Data is supplied as REST services – A development tool for business users – – Representational State Transfer a.k.a.,“Citizen Developer“ • docs.oracle.com/javaee/6/tutorial/doc/gijqy.html – Oracle blurb: – Prebuilt Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) services “Oracle Application Builder Cloud Service enables business users with no previous programming experience to rapidly create • Development is done on a web page web and mobile apps, minimizing dependence on – No additional install needed IT departments and reducing infrastructure costs.” – Then the app is published on the web page
43 44 Info on ABCS ABCS Development Experience cloud.oracle.com/ApplicationBuilder
• https://blogs.oracle.com/hands-on-with-mobile- tech/entry/intro_to_oracle_mobile_cloud • http://www.otechmag.com/magazine/2015/fall/application- builder-cloud-service.html
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Bonus JavaScript Tool Where Does Alta UI Fit? • Mobile Application Accelerator (MAX) • Common user experience (UX) • For mobile device applications regardless of the tool • Part of Mobile Cloud Service (MCS) – Scaled down graphics – square, not round – Similar to ABCS – BIG, bold colors • For MCS not SaaS/PaaS – Present only most important elements first • Mobile apps only – Reduce need for navigation and data input • Will merge with ABCS eventually • Demos of the same app, Work Better • www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/2313779 • blogs.oracle.com/hands-on-with-mobile- – ADF: http://jdevadf.oracle.com/workbetter tech/entry/intro_to_oracle_mobile_cloud – JET: www.oracle.com/webfolder/technet work/jet/public_samples/WorkBetter/public _html/index.html
47 48 You Have Questions? • ADF or APEX? • ADF or JET? • ABCS? • Which mobile development tool? • JDeveloper or Eclipse? • What about Forms? • Do I really have to learn JavaScript? • Who moved my cheese?
www.oracle.com/webfolder/ux/middleware/alta/index.html 50
ADF or APEX? ADF or JET? • A very old question • ADF is for Java developers • APEX is PL/SQL – Declarative programming primarily – Runs in the database; easy connection – Less affected by upgrades to the database – Runs on the server • Takes runtime resource from database – No one is worried about that – Takes care of all layers – Used for PaaS configuration apps – Oracle builds SaaS applications – Development done in the browser • JET is for JavaScript developers • ADF is Java – Program code oriented – Runs on the server – You are responsible for migrating to new – Scales well; good for large applications versions – It is strategic – Oracle builds its apps with it – Runs on the client – Rich UI features and task flows – UI only although it can use REST services – Customizations are in XML – upgrade safe – Oracle provides it for PaaS applications
51 52 ABCS? Which Mobile Dev Tool? • Again, it’s futureware • MAF is the tool of choice for developers – Remains to be seen – ADF techniques • Only for SaaS and PaaS users • MAX and ABCS are for end users • Business users could use it – Web interface – With supervision! • MAX is here now for MCS
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JDeveloper or Eclipse? What About Forms? • In the past, there was a clear distinction • Yes, what about it? • Not so now • Still there in the Oracle apps • ADF is supported almost fully in Eclipse • Still supported, enhanced • Traditional Oracle shop will probably • Traditional Oracle shop could stay with it prefer JDev - natively declarative • Oracle Cloud/Fusion Applications shop would choose ADF instead – Cloud apps use ADF
55 56 Do I Really Need to Learn JavaScript? Big Note • If you need to develop JET, MAX, • Lots of resources for all these ABCS, “Yes” tools • Otherwise, “Not now but probably – YouTube videos sometime in the future” – How-to’s, tutorials • MAF online courses – JavaScript cannot be ignored • ADF Academy for long –Forums – Blogs – Code samples –Libraries
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Legal Precedent Summary • Lots of development tool choices these days Change is the law of life. • “Traditional” work with Forms and PL/SQL • “New wave” work with ADF and MAF And those who look only to • “Next wave” work with JET, maybe ABCS the past or the present • Need to keep aware of change are certain to miss the future. • The cheese may be moving • Good News: • The cheese doesn’t have to move —John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) any time soon
59 60 Books co-authored with Dr. Paul Dorsey, Avrom Roy-Faderman, & Duncan Mills
Developer Advanced Designer Forms & JDeveloper 3 Handbook Reports Handbook http://www.quovera.com
• Founded in 1995 as Millennia Vision Corp. • More technical white papers and ORACLE9i ORACLE JDeveloper JDeveloper 10g presentations on the web site Handbook Handbook
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