Re: Oracle Forms VS Java

Daniel Frechette wrote:

> Good day,
>
> I'm currently working on a project to modify an existing system that was
> developed in Oracle Forms 4.5 (Web-enabled) and Java (J2EE, JRun, Oracle
> DB). I now have a new application to develop but I don't know if it should
> be done in Forms or Java. The new application has to be light and
> accessible through a Web browser. I'm trying to assess the pros and cons of
> both approaches but I know very little about Forms. Can anyone tell me what
> are the TRUE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES of Oracle Forms? Does anyone know
> of any studies or architecture comparisons that might be helpful?

Lots of architectural info and details at the Products/Development Tools section of OTN (http://otn.oracle.com) (You'll soon be getting a lot of advice from all directions.)

Both development environment can result in a good web-based program. A lot depends on the effort you want to make in learning the environment. Either way, the Java/J2EE environment is accessible - it's not excluded in a Forms decision.

Forms was the original database-oriented 4GL back in the 80s. As such, it is designed to put in predefined blocks of code to accomplish specific tasks such as on-character, on-entry, on-select, etc. but Oracle has worked on the internals over the years and these blocks are pretty efficient. Forms version 4.5 is obsolete - you would be looking at Forms 6i if you wanted client-server & web-based or Forms9i for web-based only support. Forms9i is considerably further ahead in web technology since Oracle decided to drop client-server and drop forcing compatibility with client-server style interaction. (No sense in you even looking at Forms 6i - forget 4.5)

Forms9i High level - True n-tier, it uses a middle tier server to serve up the forms pages - you could almost get a JSP analogy except it's much richer than JSPs. Transmits it's own JVM and class library, called JInitiator, on first contact making the first contact slow, but that apparently is being (has been?) eliminated. After that download, it's pretty reasonable for performance. It has the ability to hook in your Java stuff at both the client side or the middle tier. Understands and can leverage all of the database capabilities without additional code consideration. Allows creation of reusable code-block libraries. Supports look-and-feel templating.

You need Oracle's Developer Suite to create Forms - but you also get JDeveloper, Reports Developer, Designer and Source Code Management and a few other things. Designer (not easy to learn on your own) allows bi-directional generation and reverse engineering.

You also need Oracle's Application Server to deploy Forms but you also get the ability to deploy Reports, Discoverer (ad-hoc query), J2EE, and so on.

Where in Canada are you located? I can probably get you in contact with some experienced Forms developers in your neighborhood. (my return address is in clear). Received on Fri May 30 2003 - 06:05:25 CEST