>From my observations, I don't quite agree on Tony's summation of Cache vs U2. >Cache has the same burden as U2 in that they came from mumps where U2 came >from Pick. The biggest difference between Cache and U2 is marketing where >Cache takes on RDBMS and U2 is apologetic for being Pick, but that is not the >issue with the technology. Cache is a multi dimensional platform, the same >as Pick but in a slightly different way. U2 has SQL just as much as Cache, I >have applications written in U2 that have SQL tables and SQL grants and can be >accessed with SQL queries. If Cache can sell itself as an SQL database, then >so can U2 they are both in the same boat. Whilst I think some of Cache's >technology is clever in their object model, people need to consider some >issues with Cache. Check that the ATOMic transaction model is what you >expect. U2 complies to the standards, when I looked at Cache, I don't believe >that they did. Also consider the continuity of the company, what is the >future of Intersystems when the founder exits, where Rocket is a more >established business that is not so dependent on key managers.
I am currently looking at how U2 fits in the cloud environment with products like Microsoft Azure and I think the model of U2 where each table is a separate os file is better for cloud computing than Cache's one system file (similar to the approach of other RDBMs). DataVu provides a significant solution to an area of weakness in the U2 camp related to reporting. DataVu gives U2 the equivalent of SQL Reporting services and more. DataVu provides a competitive position to products like Cognos. This is one technology that I do not believe that Cache can cover off. I think it is great to have Cache in the MV world, it provides competition and will keep Rocket on its toes, both have strengths and weaknesses. However I would not agree in Tony's email that it is a better technology than U2 or that it is a solution to the management concerns who are more familiar with Oracle and SQL Server. I also don't believe that U2 is locked to green screen applications. I am seeing new generations of applications that don't have green screens, they have a range of .Net, java and web interfaces. Honestly the PICK issue does not come up as much as people think it does, nor is it a hindrance. Management are looking for ROI, they want responses to business problems and they want to ensure that Risk management is ticked off. All these can be achieved with U2 as a community we need to learn how to answer those concerns. There are some areas of U2 that need to be refined and as U2 users we need to tell Rocket where to put the priority to ensure that meets our requirements. The U2UG has set up the better and better site and Rocket has the [email protected] email. Please take advantage of these to refine U2 to meet your expectations. Regards David Jordan U2UG VP _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list [email protected] http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
