For my very first blog entry (WooHoo!), I want to share with you something NEW and EXCITING in the world of ADF application development. If you’ve had a chance to download Oracle JDeveloper 11g for a test drive, I’m guessing you’ve already found lots of new and exiting changes. One you might not have noticed yet is the new ADF Declarative Debugger. It’s actually built right on top of the existing JDeveloper Java Debugger you already know and love. That’s great since there might be a little Java debugging needed within your ADF application, too.
The new ADF Declarative Debugger allows you to place breakpoints on task flow activities, page definition bindings, page definition executables, and of course Java source code, too. When paused at a breakpoint during debugging runtime, several targeted new windows provide the ADF application developer a detailed and intuitive understanding of the application based on ADF runtime objects. These new ADF Declarative Debugger windows include the following:
ADF Structure Window - Describes the relationship of ADF runtime objects within the application and specifies detailed content to display within the new ADF Data window. It provides a fantastic snapshot of what ADF runtime objects are currently in use. For that reason alone you’ll love it!
ADF Data Window - Displays detailed content for the individual ADF runtime object currently selected within the ADF Structure window. Presents runtime values based on actual ADF objects making locating and understanding the needed information easy and efficient for any ADF application developer.
EL Evaluator Window - Provides the ability to evaluate arbitrary EL expressions within the current runtime context. This window can really help shine a light on many different debugging scenarios. It’s like a skeleton key you’ll always have in your back pocket.
In future blog entries I'll be showing you more of the very powerful, cool things the ADF Declarative Debugger provides to your ADF application debugging. Until then, more information about the ADF Declarative Debugger can be found in section 29.5 "Using the ADF Declarative Debugger" of the Fusion Developer's Guide for Oracle Application Development Framework. Your ADF application debugging will never be the same!
