Oracle E-Business Customization a New Paradigm for Development
by: Riccardo Lanzuolo

If your company has Oracle E-Business Suite (Oracle Financials, Oracle Applications), it probably uses Oracle Forms and Reports to customize an E-Business module. These tools are based on event programming and a huge set of facilities to make the developer’s job easier. Oracle Forms is a RAD (Rapid Application Development), and just like most RAD is based on event programming. So, you usually program having a user interface on mind, the “clicks” the user will do, and the possibilities you would like to give the users. Let us call this event programming paradigm, strong words to say the kind of principles this way of programming has.

As already mentioned before, Oracle has a huge Java strategy. Its recommendation is clear about the use of Java over new implementations. Pay attention at the last bullet we took from the Oracle Statement of Direction at http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/forms/pdf/10g/ToolsSOD.pdf:

• Move from client-server to the Web
• Upgrade to the latest versions
• Interoperate with Java/J2EE
• Develop new modules using JDeveloper

If you are supposed to develop in Java, the best way is to know and use Java as an Object Oriented (OO) language. At the same statement of direction mentioned above, Oracle said they have done JDevelopers a comfortable IDE for Forms Developers. But is this enough for you?

Java is not only a language. Actually the word Java is overused. Instead to mention the thousands of others “J” acronyms is much easier to say just Java. For example, to make a simple program in Java you will use the standard J2SE which has a lot of interfaces. To make a web interface you will probably use one of these API/Frameworks: JSP, Java Servlets, Struts, JSF, or some others similar to make the same. But, anyway, they all will use Java and, as we said, Java is an OO language and you should program just like this paradigm is alike: using encapsulation, inheritance, Java Interfaces, etc.

Everybody knows OO paradigm is not new, so it is better for you. People and the market know already what to do, and the best, what to avoid. We recommend you, first of all, to recognize this is a different (not difficult!!) way of doing. If you do so, you’ll open your mind to learn, what will make things much easier for you.

Next step is to study about OO Analysis and Design, we will help you writing some articles about it. Try to know what is UML(Unified Modeling Language) and how this will help you. Realize JDeveloper has an environment to design using UML, and this is very helpful.

Well … what’s next? Probably to specialize on Web, Server, Oracle ADF, Struts, etc. It’s common to find people specialized on client or server technologies; it’s too much to be good on everything. Good luck!!!

If you need help, please give us a call: 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, help@albaspectrum.com

About The Author

Riccardo Lanzuolo is technical consultant at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

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