Our department has approximately 20 programmers. Most of our projects are for
our company (600 employees) and I'd say that about a third devleop with
PowerBuilder (including yours truly), a third with VB and a third with Developer
. Our database for all our projects is Oracle. We're starting to think in terms
of internet/intranet. We'd like to move over to using only one of the above
tools, and we've arranged a meeting next week to discuss it. The general
consensus is:
1. PowerBuilder is currently the most 'advanced' of the three.
2. The learning curve and development time is greater in PB than the others.
3. Developer is currently the 'weaker' of the three.
4. PB is a little behind in all that's involved with the Web
We're looking for a long-term strategy, and there's where VB (Microsoft) and
Developer (Oracle) have the big advantage over PB.
Any opinions - references to papers written on the subject - facts/statistics -
etc. would be welcome.
I personally would love to stay with PB - I've been with it since v3.0 - but
there's a lot of pressure to dump PB and move over to PB
David,
While developers are still stuck in the mode of comparing front end tools, tool vendor companies are shifting their focus toward the application server market.
Don't compare VP to PB but compare their application servers! EAServer / MTS / Oracle 8I? Better yet first standardize on the distributed architecture COM - NT only, pushed by MS or CORBA pushed by everyone but MS.
A common mistake made by PB developers in your situation is to go into this debate armed with their PB experience. Compared to VB+COM+MTS PB cannot win. PB / EAServer combination is a different story. A general note to everyone: Unless you educate yourself on EAServer features PB will not have a future in your shop.
However, with all the respect to this list the EAServer newsgroup may be a better place to ask this question.
http://www.pfcguide.com/_newsgroups/subject_list.asp?group=powersoft%2Epublic%2Eeaserver
Here are some replies from the http://www.deja.com/ archives:
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EAServer use native OS Threads - Higher performance, better scalability
EAServer supports multiple component models (EJB, COM, CORBA, PowerBuilder NVO). MTS supports COM.
EAServer runs on NT and UNIX (including Linux). MTS runs on NT only.
EAServer's clustering and failover schemes are far better than MTS offerings - Higher reliability, scalability and availability.
EAServer has built in support for Entrust (Security), Encina JTS/OTS (2-Phase commit, transaction management across components).
EAServer supports synchronization of server repositories - automatically within clusters, manually for servers not within the cluster. Try moving components from Development to Test to Production on MTS.
EAServer allows you to leverage your PowerBuilder and Object-Oriented skills Sybase is in the J2EE Early Adopter Program to embrace the new Java Standards. Microsoft is, well, non-committal on their Java future.
I guess a lot depends on your position regarding Java. If Java is of no concern to you, then the products are closer. EAServer is still a better product, but they are closer. If your vision for your internet position revolves around lower level e-commerce (shopping cart applications for eg), then the products are even closer. If you are planning any kind of transactional support, then EAServer is a better bet.
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EAS/PowerJ...
currently holds the world record for transaction throughput on a web site (World Cup Soccer '98).
integrates with your existing codebase (PowerBuilder) and can host PowerBuilder NVO's as Corba Objects. (read migrate, not rewrite) can also host Visual Basic Objects, ActiveX controls, DLL's, you name it - it'll host it as a Corba Object or provide a way to hook in.
Matter of fact hit the OMG (Object Management Group - home of Corba) website and you'll see that it is hosted by.. thats right: Sybase. (Corba is universally recognized as 'the' communications object for Java.)
is faster, cheaper (much, much cheaper) and a hell of a lot easier to work with (productivity)
runs all over the place (NT, Solaris, Linux, etc.)
has just released an Object-relational database with Java support built in (ASA6/ASE12) - the DOD just purchased it too (see the last news clip)
EAS is kicking butt everywhere (the second one will probably most interest you)
San Francisco, CA , June 16, 1999 -- Sybase, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBS) today announced that Sybase� Enterprise Application Server� (EAServer) beat all major competitors in the Java Developer's Journal (JDJ) Readers' Choice Awards. Recipients were selected by 15,470 JDJ readers who cast their votes for the best Java� products in 14 categories.
Concord, MA , June 07, 1999 -- Sybase Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBS) today announced that Sybase� Enterprise Application Server� (EAServer) has placed first in "The Shoot-Out on the Silicon Prairie - A Head to Head Competition of Application Server Products." EAServer surpassed competitors SilverStream and Bluestone Sapphire Web in all areas including ease of development & deployment, performance, and support for multiple component models. The shoot-out was sponsored by the Association of Information Technology Professionals and held at the 17th annual Strictly Business Computer Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The competition guidelines required each team of three developers to build an Internet based bicycle store. In the allotted 14 hours, the Sybase team not only met all of the requirements set forth by the conference, but using Enterprise Application Studio� also extended the functionality of the application by adding insert and update functionality and providing a transactional Web site including a shopping cart application. Sybase also demonstrated this application running in a highly available cluster of Enterprise Application Servers.
Emeryville, CA , December 09, 1998 -- Sybase, Inc. today announced that its Enterprise Application Server� (EAServer) has been awarded the coveted Java Developer's Journal Editor's Choice in the Application Server category for its ability to Web-enable applications. Sybase's Enterprise Application Server was chosen for its scalability, ease of use, and broad platform support. Sybase also announced this week the beta of EAServer 3.0. This announcement builds on the company's mission to deliver targeted, market-driven solutions that address customer requirements. EAServer 3.0 incorporates a fully integrated relationship between development and deployment of Web, Java and PowerBuilder� applications; new distributed services; enhanced security; and advances in application and data integration. (see related announcement "Sybase Previews Next Release of Enterprise Application Server 3.0 and Enterprise Application Studio� 3.0"). Sybase's EAServer was one of 16 entrants in the Application Server category. Acknowledging Sybase's comprehensive offerings, Java Developer's Journal chose Sybase's Enterprise Application Server for overall ease of use and its ability to support the following: broad component models and languages such as Java, CORBA and COM; connection caching, transaction processing; and support for a variety of databases and platforms.
Emeryville, CA , October 29, 1999 --
Sybase, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBS) today announced the signing of a Blanket Purchasing Agreement (BPA) with the US Department of Defense (DOD). The first delivery order awarded under the BPA is for Sybase's portal-ready database Adaptive Server� Enterprise (ASE). The Sybase-DOD deal has a total potential value of over $12 million.
Recently they did this:
Emeryville, CA , October 12, 1999 -- Sybase, Inc. and Nettech Systems Inc. today announced they are working together to enable the wireless synchronization of e-Business data from mobile devices, including laptops and handhelds, to a variety of corporate information sources. Nettech plans to join the Sybase� Business Solutions Alliance Program, and Sybase plans to join Nettech System's Partner Program, enabling the companies to jointly address demand for wireless data synchronization solutions through a variety of targeted marketing efforts. The combination of Sybase SQL Anywhere� Studio with Nettech Systems' mobile middleware products, including Smart IP� and ExpressQ�, offers customers the convenience of using wireless technology for mobile synchronization, while reducing the time and costs associated with sending large volumes of data across a wireless network.
Bottom line.. Java is literally sweeping across the Enterprise. It's an extremely robust and powerful OOP language that has the flexibility to run on many platforms in many different forms (from the biggest Server & database to the smallest hand-held PDA.. or inkpen!).
Visual Basic/Interdev is just the opposite.
IMO there is really no comparision.
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hth,
Boris Gasin
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Chief Technology Officer
Dynamic Technology Group, Inc.
1055 Parsippany Blvd., Suite 501-26
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: 973.402.5600
Fax: 973.402.5620
