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May 18, 2006
Oracle + Scripting is Groovy
The combination of Oracle Database + open-source scripting languages such as php, python, ruby, et al is really gathering steam, if the popularity of related content on OTN is any indication. "Ruby on Rails on Oracle" and "Wrapping Your Brain Around Oracle and Python" were simply blockbusters and we hope to replicate their success with new multi-part series in the next quarter.
Tug Grall's "Grails on Oracle for Java Developers" looks to be on a similar path; Harshad Oak of indicthreads.com has kindly offered do provide more Groovy content based on his JavaOne session this week as well.
Oracle is really sticking its neck out to support these open-source communities (and has been doing so for php for well over two years); the Java platform team recognizes their potentially complementary value to J2EE (witness Oracle support for JSR-223) in an SOA. This of course is something that SAP won't touch with a 10-foot pole -- Shai Agassi in fact is on record for calling open source "IP socialism."
The public comments about open source have been really overblown, but the fact remains that there has existed in the open source community some real challenges to adoption by large vendors with mature products. Recent license evolutions have gone a long way to putting in place commercially friendly licenses, time will tell how they suceed.
Lastly, NetWeaver has supported scripting languages for quite a while, in fact if you go on SDN right now and search on Python, PHP, or Ruby you will find detailed articles covering how to take advantage of these tools.
http://thierrychantier.blogspot.com/
It is now possible to use Groovy within Oracle Data Integrator.
Who knows: Groovy may become part of the product one day ;)