Oracle Database Management Strategic Directions

1. Best Practices for managing Oracle database servers.
2. Oracle Fusion Middleware products like J2EE, ADF, XML, BPEL, SOA, Web Services, Discoverer...).
3. Oracle Application Servers and Apache.

Oracle Fusion blog topics include:

• Oracle Fusion: Transitioning Traditional Developers to Fusion
  
• Oracle Fusion: Service Oriented Architecture
  
• Oracle Fusion: Java
  
• Oracle Fusion: Internet Development Tools
  
• Oracle Fusion: JDeveloper 10gR3
  
• Oracle Fusion: Trubix Training Roadmap
  
• Oracle Fusion: Key Components
  
• Oracle Fusion: The Oracle Fusion Technical Platform

Traditional Oracle developers that have grown up on Oracle Forms, Reports, Discoverer, PL/SQL, etc. are going to have to acquire the up and coming skills needed with Internet development projects. Java and .NET are becoming the primary solutions being used to develop new Internet solutions despite other options being available.

Oracle Fusion tools are going to hide developers from a lot of the technical complexity behind Oracle Fusion. However, dependent upon the customizations made to Oracle Fusion applications, developers may need a strong understanding of the technical components that are the foundation of Oracle Fusion.

There are three types of developers that are likely to need to work with products in the Oracle Fusion Technology Platform:

• Traditional Oracle Developers - Developers that have used Oracle Forms, Reports, Discoverer, PowerBuilder, Visual Basic, C/C++, etc. are going to need to learn the technologies supported in Internet development environments. Most Oracle developers are going to have to be knowledgeable with some or all of these technologies.
  
• Traditional Oracle Apps Developers - If you are a developer who has customized Oracle, Siebel, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, Retek, Stellent and you are not likely to hit the lottery jackpot, then learning the Oracle Fusion Technology Platform is in your future.
  
• Internet Developers - Developers building Internet applications are likely to work with some or all of the products we have discussed in this article. Internet developers may be working with Eclipse instead of JDeveloper, or Hybernate instead of TopLink or WebSphere instead of the Oracle Application Server. However the principles of Frameworks, ORMs, Design Patterns, J2EE, Managing Web Services, XML and SOA are still going to be technical areas that need to be understood.

It is important to understand that components such as J2EE, Web Services, XML, SOA, etc are not just tied to Oracle. They are based on open standards. Skills in the technology discussed in this article are incredibly valuable in any Internet development environment.

These open standard components are moving into your future like a freight train. They require skills that are going to be incredibly marketable and valuable in the future.