.NET vs Oracle forms vs Java, etc

[VB.NET]

My company is trying to decide whether to dive into the .NET framework. We currently use Oracle and UNIX, with the possinbility of migrating to SQL server on Windows.

I wanted to avoid polling opinions on any board partial to Microsoft or Sun. I hope I came to the right forum. Do you think migrating to the .NET framework is a good idea? What would be some advantages and disadvantages? Any experience to share? Comments, suggestions, opinions are all welcome.

[Khalid Ali]

if I am not mistaken....then oracle forms are essentially java swing components...The only problem with java related apps is that it may use more mem then in comparison with MS stuff...other then java based products are allot better all the way..:p

[VB.NET]

Considering the extensive manpower required to maintain Java applications, we are rather hesitant to go that path. I can't tell you if Oracle Forms uses java swing, but that's what we're using for a lot of stuff. Problem is, if we ever migrate to SQL Server, all the Oracle forms become useless. That's why we're looking at .NET. I'm sure there are some negative aspects to that as well, so let's hear them ;)

[Khalid Ali]

Here is a good reading...however,it leaves the decision up to you..in other words it might confuse you even more..thanks to me..:-)
http://java.oreilly.com/news/farley_0800.html

[VB.NET]

Thanks. I've come across that article before. It was written about 3 years ago (prior to .NET's release?), so I'm not so sure the info is all that accurate.

[Ribeyed]

Hi,
Been developing with VB.NET for a short while now, comming from ASP i find it .NET amazing. Personally i think they have pushed web developement into the 21st century with .NET and back into the hands of the experts.
Some most notable things about it:
The .NET Framework has been designed so that you can port it to other operating systems.
Multiple Development Lanquages; C#, VB.NET, JScript.NET, underdevelopement Perl.NET, Python.NET, COBOL.NET.
.NET takes advantage of the Common Language Runtime.
ASP.NET has a lot of new concepts and technologies, such as enhancements to the session and state management, ADO.NET, MEssaging and directory Services to name a few.
Compiled Code; ASP.NET web pages are now compiled on the server, which means that the pages generally perform more efficiently.
Advanced Configuration; ASP.NET has a configuration file that is used to hold and maintain configuration information about the environment, and it can also be used to hold any application sepcific configuration data for a web application.
XML Web Services are basically objects that can be used through the web. They use SOAP as their main transport layer and are unhindered by firewalls.
Native XML Support; XML is deeply entrenched inside the whole .NET development framework- it is used as the main transport format for ADO.NET and the Messaging Services. The .NET base class libraries have complete support for XML, and XML-drien application developement.
Enhanced state management
Enhanced security
Moblie device developement
Seperating code from page and page layout.
and many more

I am writing ASP.NET using VB.NET but would prefer to write it in C#.

Anyway hope this helps.

[Khalid Ali]

Originally posted by VB.NET
Thanks. I've come across that article before. It was written about 3 years ago (prior to .NET's release?), so I'm not so sure the info is all that accurate.

At the bottomof th earticle, If you had read it..:D , there is an update that discusses it in todays terms..

[SWR]Ribeyed
Just for the record..almost all of the advantages you mentioned above are and have been in use by Java developers for several years.:D

[PeOfEo]

but ribeyed failed to meantion the asp.net viewstate which is a very nice feature and saves me about half the work that I would have to do with java.

[VB.NET]

which means that the pages generally perform more efficiently.

That's very good information. Does anyone have more comments about or comparison of SPEED and PERFORMANCE?

[Ribeyed]

Hi,
you can have a look here for more information about .NET
http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/productinfo/default.aspx

[Ribeyed]

hi,
Another critical component in the .NET Framework is the JIT (Just-in-time) compiler. This is the price that actually compiles the contents of the assembly into machine language. It will not compile the entire assembly into memory all at once. Its initial responsibility is to examine the manifest to identify the critical pieces to compile and load to ensure that the application opens quickly. Beyonde that point, the final product of this "just in time" approach is a runtime environment with more available memory space to process what is being used, faster. Microsoft believes that this approach will also garantee that .NET applications will be able to outperform thier much older, unmanaged, and occasionally delinguent cousin, the Win32 executable.

[Khalid Ali]

Ok here are some resources which you might want to read ( unless you are already biased about java:p )

1.http://java.sun.com/features/2001/08/j2eewrap.html
In the above article You "must" want to read this link
http://www.theserverside.com/resources/article.jsp?l=J2EE-vs-DOTNET

It will give you some serious info.

2.http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/17254.html

3.http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/enterprise/story/0,2000048640,20269968,00.htm

4.http://java.sun.com/features/2002/04/j2eenms.html

[VB.NET]

Thanks. I have to admit, I'm slightly partial to .NET, but my job is to find out the best and worst of both worlds. It will be a difficult decision, and even if I did recommend .NET, it might not go through approval.