Re: pl/sql alternatives for server side programming?

mh_at_pixar.com wrote:
> If you look at postgresql, they have the idea of pluggable scripting
> languages, so you can write server side code in tcl, python, etc.
>
> Is there an equivalent idea in Oracle?
> Are there any alternatives to PL/SQL for Oracle server-side programming?
> Can java be used? Can PL/SQL procedures be bound to compiled C code?
>
> Is this just too weird to even think about?
>
> Many TIA!
> Mark
>

All these are external to the database, if memory serves. pl/sql and java are internal to Oracles' rdbms, and java, C, Fortran and Cobol are external with their own pre-compilers. PHP is being embraced by Oracle, so it seems.

Then, there's the mirade of languages, that can communicate with the rdbms using one of the connection techniques.

Ruby is known in Oracle world
(http://delicious.com/OracleTechnologyNetwork/jruby) and is basically connecting to Oracle, using jdbc. Should not be a problem.

-- 

Regards,
Frank van Bortel