|
Why Not Java?
Companies like UPS and Intuit are going to be
sorry they didn't use Java to develop their latest "updated" or
"modernized" applications. Sybase, the database server that gets installed
with these applications (without telling you) is also the name of the
company that "makes" the database server. While the conversion to this
well known mature database server has been a nightmare for companies like
Intuit they will probably soon find it necessary to switch yet again. When
they use these commercial database servers they, ultimately you, pay a
hefty license fee for it which increases the cost of the software
significantly.
Sybase is not doing so good. Pressure from free embedded database servers
are starting to take their toll on Sybase. Some of these superior,
lightweight, customizable & free database servers are created with Java.
Hence they can run on any platform; design the program once and it runs
flawlessly on Macintosh, Linux, Unix, OS/2, Windows, and the list goes on.
If some of these companies wake up and embrace Java their applications
will take on new life. But instead you see companies like UPS
re-developing their flagship application (World Ship 9.0) in .Net chained
to Windows and an antiquated database product (Sybase). This kind of
maneuver reeks of ignorance and politics combined into one big mess.
Intuit recently re-developed, rather, adapted (cough) their flagship
application to the lovely Sybase server. The administration nightmares
from this has caused many to dump the application or avoid the features
that Sybase was used to enable!
|
Sybase IS a good product but part of the
problem with Intuit was their falter in adapting the mutli-user nature of
Sybase to their predominantly single user application QuickBooks. For
years Intuit has offered "multi-user" products but those were hacks
for the most part and lacked real mutli-user power. That is precisely why
the switch to Sybase was made because QuickBooks could not scale or handle
real mutli-user interactions in a real business.
|
Intuit
has also based their products on the bloated Internet Explorer;
their ultimate goal is to dump the desktop software and have you use
online web-based applications where you pay a recurring fee. |
These cultures do not exhibit the
characteristics of Java. Intelligence, adaptability & ability; all of
these being the nature of the Java community they simply do not mesh with
the current politics, ignorance & bias that is ingrained in some
cultures.
|
If Intuit had used Java to develop their newest
applications from the ground up, they need this anyway, then they would
have access to a royalty free, completely customizable, no compromise
database server. If UPS had used Java their customers wouldn't be
stuck on Windows and they too could forgo the Sybase licensing fees.
In addition if Sybase tanks and no one wants to cough up the cash to
buy/bail them out then UPS, Intuit and thousands of other companies will
be forced to redevelop their applications around what is anyone's guess.
It just makes total sense in the world of
freedom to have choices like Java. Why don't more people cut through
the fog and realize the advanced state of this technology. I think
it is because companies like Microsoft & Intuit are still baffled by the
Internet; they don't know how to deal with it yet as it potentially
invalidates their longstanding investments in old technology and business
models.
|
There is even a free Java Virtual
Machine offered by BEA (JRockit) designed to enhance the performance
of Java applications beyond Sun's standard JVM. This could
also be utilized as a "plug-in option" that customers (users) could
install to enhance the speed of these crucial applications.
|
|
|
