Oracle OpenWorld San Francisco 2010 - What To Look For..

Each Fall at Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco there is anticipation and hope for certain improvements to be contained in new releases of Oracle Database and Application Software and this year is no exception.

Oracle Database Express Edition (XE). Oracle XE, which includes Oracle Application Express, has been a very prolific prototyping system and small application development platform for some time. Limited database updates in the 10g realm and Application Express updates have been possible with some effort, however the long awaited Oracle XE 11g release has yet to materialize.

Increased limits 0n memory and database size restrictions would also be welcomed by the XE community at large.

Oracle SQL Developer last revised in March 2010 has had many improvements including release of the companion Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler updated most recently in December 2009. It's capabilities in managing and migrating Access and SQL Server Databases have improved but have a long way to go in terms of providing Database Administration and Tool Capabilities provided for native Oracle Databases.

The migration and SQL translation tools are essentially one way (other DB > Oracle). Bi-directional support is needed. A full incorporation of the Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler component into the base Oracle SQL Developer product(as originally anticipated on first release of Data Modeler) would be a definite plus.

Oracle Database 11g R2 Database Console still lacks the functionality found in the Enterprise Manager Windows Java App that not seen since 10g.

One such important feature was the Enterprise Manager Navigation Panel and Tree that provided easy access to other Oracle Servers from the local Database Console. This functionality is still missing from the local Oracle Database Console component. Bringing back the Oracle Enterprise Manager Windows Java Application would be a definite plus.

Further strengthening the local Oracle Database Console system to prevent occaissonal repository rebuilds would be a great help also. The Oracle 11g R2 Database Console has certain installation and connection problems in the Windows environment that were not issues in Oracle 11g R1.

Further improvements in Oracle Database 11g R2 would be improved de-install options that fully utilize the Oracle Universal Installer (OUI). Beginning with Oracle 11g R2 a complicated set of script runs from the Windows Command Line is required to 'fully' de-install the product.