Persistence O/R Mapping Plug-Ins For Eclipse - Comments after 2+ hrs looking at their download yvonnegk - Feb 09, 2004 - 04:38 PM Post subject: Comments after 2+ hrs looking at their downloadHere are my comments after 2+ hours looking at their download:
Pros
- *Realio trulio* Eclipse plug-in. I was able to define model, generate data layer, compile debug and run all in the Eclipse environment
- Deep functionality: combines O/R mapping, caching and cache sync in a single data framework
- Cross-platform: can use same model/constraints to generate to multiple languages/platforms, including plain Java, Java/J2EE (BMP entity beans), C++, C#/.NET (the last two are not integrated w eclipse but can export model from eclipse and generate using separate utility)
Cons
- Requires up-front thinking about design/data modeling. More of a model-driven development approach than a code first, ask questions later type tool
- No mention of pricing on site = probably not cheap
Summary: mature product (full-featured + *real* case studies on web site), best for projects with model-driven bent + $$
ckeene - Feb 09, 2004 - 06:43 PM Post subject:
Here are some comments from another evaluator, John Bramlett, Chief Architect, 10x Software:
I took a look at the Persistence plug-ins for Eclipse over the weekend and this morning and was very impressed with it. I was not able to fully run it through its paces because I don't have a compatible database available right now but from what I was able to do it looks like it is a very nice plug-in.
I have used similar products in the past and have even done similar things using XDoclet tags and the Persistence plug-in makes this much easier (and not having to leave the IDE to do this as the last version of TopLink I used was a nice bonus).
I posted a review up on the site. I gave the plug-in 8 of 10 stars - the only thing holding me back from higher was how tedious entering the entities was. This was not so much an issue with the information required but more in the navigation - i.e. when defining new states or a new id hitting tab would take me to the buttons not to the data types, this meant in order to change the data type from the default type of Int to something else I had to use my mouse.
I know this is small but if having to deal with a large number of entities I could see where this might be a problem (I believe there is some keystroke you can use to tab between columns while leaving tab to leave the control but the combinations I tried did not work).
Also, the documentation I read (which was really only the evaluation guide though I also looked at the installation guide) was very well done.