Hewlett-Packard Odapter object overlay for Oracle7 starts to move the database in the right direction
Hewlett-Packard Co’s new Odapter object-oriented overlay for relational databases (CI No 2,462) is designed to enable Oracle7 and other relational databases to store objects created by object-oriented applications, so that software developers can create purely object-based applications on top of existing Oracle7 systems, and in so doing run them alongside existing relational applications. In order to create Odapter, Hewlett has stripped the object development and query component out of OpenODB. OpenODB is its combination of the existing AllBase/SQL relational database overlaid with a range of object technologies. In doing this, Hewlett-Packard appears to have bowed to the inevitable, and has accepted that most users already have their own database strategies and are not interested in moving to Hewlett-Packard’s home-grown relational offering, even if they are keen to have OpenODB’s object functionality. Part of the motivation came from major users in the oil and petrol industry and was directed through the Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation, which used de-coupled OpenODB Applications Programming Interfaces as part of its preferred object data access mechanism.
Odaptor maps processes and rules too
However, the Corporation recognises that Oracle, Informix and Sybase databases are still the most common means of relational data storage. However, Hewlett-Packard is seeking to overturn conventional object-relational notions, and the company argues that Odapter maps not only object data to the relational database, but the accompanying processes and rules too. It is cagey about the details of the proprietary transformation software, but essentially Odapter converts Object SQL object classes to relational tables using what it calls object decomposition routines. It uses an integrated object model to access and store the data in the underlying relational tables. Storing the object models within Odapter enables different applications to share the same objects, Hewlett-Packard promises. De-coupling the objects from the application code itself means that only one model, on client systems, has to be maintained, relieving the user of the necessity of updating the server every time a client breaks the server model, especially where large numbers of users and large amounts of data are involved. Like OpenODB, Odapter queries are formed in Object SQL – Hewlett-Packard’s implementation of SQL and the draft American National Standards Institute SQL 3 standard, which it has already deployed as Allbase/SQL. Processing takes place on the server. Odapter also includes Enterprise Data Access-Objects, a class library using Information Builders Inc’s EDA/SQL gateway to provide access to relational views of legacy databases. For modelling, Odapter supports HP Fusion, Hitachi Ltd’s ObjectIQ, Protosoft Inc Paradigm Plus, Step Tools Inc Express and most object-oriented analysis and design tools. HP Interface Architect, ParcPlace Systems Inc’s VisualWorks, Visual Edge Inc’s UIM/X or any graphical user interface tools that generate C, C++ or SmallTalk code can be used for interface development for Odapter. It is tightly-integrated with HP Distributed SmallTalk, SoftBench C++ and VisualWorks for code generation, and also supports ObjectIQ, Information Builders’ Focus, and the Taligent Inc Application Environment Framework when it appears. It currently runs over AllBase/SQL or Oracle7, though may be extended to other environments. Client software is up on Hewlett-Packard, IBM Corp and Sun Microsystems Inc Unix workstations and Windows personal computers. It only runs on Hewlett-Packard servers at present, although the Cupertino company says that it will be migrated on to Sun, IBM and other systems shortly. From September, $6,000 will buy a two-user concurrent licence with the right to install the thing on an unlimited amount of clients. Hewlett-Packard is looking for OEM adopters of Odopter, chasing after systems integrators and tools provide
rs. The company’s first agreement is likely to be cut with Cap Gemini Sogeti SA’s North American unit, which last month teamed up with Hewlett-Packard to provide implementations and support to the Petrotechnical Open Software Corp.
Hewlett-Packard’s Informix relationship falters
Why hasn’t Hewlett-Packard Co put Odapter up on the Informix database? After all Hewlett-Packard licensed OpenODB to Informix Software Inc back in 1992. Apparently the relationship has not created much business – Hewlett-Packard cites ‘political problems’ and the change in strategy over at the Menlo Park, California, company which has resulted in some business partners struggling to figure out where their relationships are heading. However, the OpenODB contract with Informix remains in place, Hewlett-Packard says, and therefore the possibility of putting Odapter up on Informix in future. It is also considering connections to IBM Corp’s DB2/6000 and to its other database partner Sybase Inc, although Sybase is understood to have its own object-oriented plans afoot. Having already separated Odapter from its AllBase database, conversion issues are purely business decisions, Hewlett-Packard declares.
Smalltalk is upgraded to Release 3.0
Hewlett-Packard Co has introduced release 3.0 of its Distributed SmallTalk development system, effectively an implementation of ParcPlace Systems Inc’s VisualWorks 1.0, extended to enable distributed development and deployment over Hewlett-Packard’s CORBA 1.1 object request broker. Release 3.0 includes a shared repository with version control and improved browsing, enabling users to share SmallTalk objects on a network, increased messaging speed, a distributed debugger, enhanced security, support for character-based applications and additional sample applications. Hewlett-Packard will add support for VisualWorks 2.0 later this year, plus Windows, NT and OS/2 systems. Distributed SmallTalk is available stand-alone or bundled with VisualWorks – Hewlett-Packard will give away VisualWorks free with every five Distributed SmallTalk licences purchased before the end of October. Version 3.0 is out next week and costs $5,000 to $10,500 with VisualWorks on Hewlett-Packard-US, SunOS, Solaris and AIX.
