Re: Sybase buys Powerbuilder - Is Ora..

In article <3arde7$ckd$3_at_mhadf.production.compuserve.com> Mark J. Thompson <73303.3537_at_CompuServe.COM> writes:
>The real question is, "Is PowerBuilder" dead?
>
>Sybase has two choices. Either turn themselves into a tools
>vendor and actively market PowerBuilder's database independence,
> which in my opinion would be a smart move.
>
>Or market PowerBuilder with Sybase, enhancing PB for Sybase
>before enhancing it's connectivity with other databases, which is
>likely. This would be disasterous for the future sales of
>PowerBuilder.
>
>There's lots of egos and instant millionaires growing here, but
>probably not a lot of strategic thinking going on.
>

I don't agree. Now that relational databases are starting to converge enough that you _can_ have independent front ends, I think it is a strategic move to gain instant market share this way. Assuming they are smart enough to see this is where your first choice leads. Think about what a pain it is to use Oracle to do anything useful (I mean, like using C to interface with PL/SQL). Those procedural extensions where the db vendors differ the most are exactly the same things that get replaced by front ends. I think the masses of developers and the managers who control them will see the value of good front-end tools. Powerbuilder and Gembase and all the others will benefit greatly, unless the 800 pound gorilla sees this and makes forms6 or whatever do the same thing. So let's keep this our little secret :) At least until procedural SQL's get standardized and objectized sometime in the next century. Or if CASE tools ever work.

-- 
Joel Garry           joelga_at_amber.rossinc.com            Compuserve 70661,1534
These are my opinions, not necessarily those of Ross Systems, Inc.
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