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Latest version of cross-platform tool is an improvement, but appeal is limited
Oracle's Developer/2000 has a long reputation for being a comprehensive client-server development tool-and being hard to comprehend. I recently tested a beta of Developer/2000 version 2.0, due to release this week, and found that it will add to the former and do little about the latter.
If you are in a shop that uses Developer/2000, you'll definitely want this upgrade. Developer/2000 is a suite of tools for creating database applications in a cross-platform environment. Clients don't directly run Developer/2000 applicationsthe applications run on a Developer/2000 server with the client handling the user interface. This architecture allows a variety of clients-terminals, PCs, and Web browsers included-to access Developer/2000 applications. This means the Developer/2000 applications are client-independent.
Development is easier in some respects, since you need not, for example, know the ins and outs of Win32 APIs. It also means that as new client platforms come along, all Oracle has to do is add a new client "cartridge" for it. It also means that your applications will look and run as Oracle wants them to-which can be as much of a drawback as it is an advantage.
This is exemplified by the Windows 95 client environment, which doesn't take advantage of any native look-and-feel for...