Oracle JHeadstart 10g - Frequently Asked Questions

Support
6. Will upgrades/patches be provided?
7. Is there a discussion forum?
8. Is it supported other than through the discussion forum?

Partners
9. Are partners allowed to buy Oracle JHeadstart?
10. Are partners allowed to resell Oracle JHeadstart?

Services and Training
11. Which Consulting Services around JHeadstart are available?
12. Which training courses are available around JHeadstart?

Technical Questions and Direction
13. What are the benefits of JHeadstart when I do not want to use the generators?
14. What is the status of the JHeadstart Designer Generator in JHeadstart 10.1.3?
15. What is the relationship between JHeadstart, ADF and ADF Faces?
17. What about JHeadstart and Oracle TopLink as a Model implementation?
18. What about JHeadstart and CDM RuleFrame?
19. What is the future direction of JHeadstart?
20. With which versions of JDeveloper is JHeadstart 10g release 10.1.3 certified?

General

0. What is the current status of Oracle JHeadstart?
Oracle JHeadstart 10g release 10.1.3.1 for ADF is production. This release supports JSF and ADF Faces. It is now available for license and supplement option holders.

1. What is Oracle JHeadstart?
JHeadstart is a development tool kit, fully integrated with JDeveloper and based and JDeveloper's Application Development Framework (ADF), that enables rapid component based development of J2EE applications using the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern. It provides you with 4GL-like productivity without jeopardizing the flexibility and openness of the J2EE architecture.
JHeadstart consists of three main components:

• JHeadstart Editor, easy-to-use editor to record highly functional meta data, accompanied by a wizard that automatically generates the initial meta data based on data collections in the model layer. Starting with the data model you've designed for your ADF business service, you use the editor to iteratively refine a higher-level application structure definition. This controls the functionality and organization of the view objects' information in your generated web user interface. By checking boxes and choosing various options from dropdown lists, you describe a logical hierarchy of pages that can include multiple styles of search regions, List of Values (LOVs) with validation, shuttle controls, nested tables, and other features. These declarative choices use terminology familiar to Oracle Forms and Designer users, further simplifying web development.
  
• JHeadstart Application Generator, an additional extension for JDeveloper that stands on the shoulders of Oracle ADF?s built-in features to offer complete web-tier generation for your application modules. Based on the application structure definition, you generate a complete web application. Whenever you run the JHeadstart application generator, rather than generating code, it creates (or regenerates) all of the declarative view and controller layer artifacts of your ADF-based web application. These use the ADF Model layer and work with your ADF application module as their business service. The generated files are the same kinds you produce when using JDeveloper's built-in visual editors. The key difference is that JHeadstart creates them in bulk based on a higher-level definition that you can iteratively refine until the generated pages match your end-users' requirements as closely as possible.
  
• JHeadstart Designer Generator, generates complete J2EE applications out of Oracle Designer and can be used to migrate Forms to J2EE applications (see Question 14).
  
• JHeadstart Runtime, these components extend the ADF Framework with best practices collected on Oracle Consulting's ADF projects. The generic and highly configurable runtime components are the basis of the advanced features provided by the JHeadstart Application Generator, easily leveraging the most sophisticated features that Oracle ADF and JSF have to offer.

2. What is included?
JHeadstart includes the following:

• JHeadstart Meta Data Generator, that generates initial meta data based on ADF Business Components.
  
• JHeadstart Application Generator; generates J2EE applications from JDeveloper based on ADF Business Components, JSF, and ADF Faces.
  
• JHeadstart Designer Generator; transforms meta data out of Designer into JDeveloper ADF Business Components and Application meta data, and invokes the JHeadstart Application Generator to generate the complete application. This can be used to either generate a J2EE application from Oracle Designer or migrate Forms to Java/J2EE applications (in combination with the Forms Design Capture capabilities of Oracle Designer) (see Question 14).
  
• JHeadstart Runtime, which includes generic reusable components.
• JHeadstart Editor: Application Definition editor to declaratively specify the structure of the applications (the meta data).
• JHeadstart Developer's Guide, explaining how to drive the generators and how to customize the generated application.
• JHeadstart JavaDoc, describes the classes of the JHeadstart Runtime and the JHeadstart Application Generator, for use in your own application runtime, or in your custom generator templates, respectively.
  

For a complete list of features please refer to the fact sheet on OTN.

3. What is the price of this bundle?
The price is set at USD 1,750 per named user (developer). The supplement option is a yearly fee of 15% of the license price. There is a minimum of 3 licenses. Be aware that the 10.1.3.1 release is part of the supplment option only! So to acquire this release you will have to acquire the supplement option. You can download the software from the supplement option portal. For more information on the supplement option see Question 6.

4. How can I obtain JHeadstart?
You can obtain Oracle JHeadstart through Oracle Consulting. Otherwise you may send an e-mail to idevcoe_nl@oracle.com. See also Question 3 and Question 6.

4a. Is an evaluation copy available?
Yes an evaluation copy of  JHeadstart 10.1.3.1 is available from OTN. The evaluation versions may only be used for evaluation purposes and not for development of systems that are intended to be taken in production. The 10.1.2.1, 10.1.2.2 and 10.1.3 production releases are only available to supplement option holders.

5. Where can I find more information?
You can find more information about JHeadstart on OTN.

Support

6. Will upgrades/patches be provided?
Yes, for point releases, patches, small/minor upgrades, extra utilities etc. a supplement option is available. This supplement option has a yearly subscription fee of 15% of the price paid for the licenses. If you want to acquire the supplement option check the check box on the order form and give your my.oracle.com user name to your Oracle Consulting Representative or the Oracle Direct representative. You will then be given access to a portlet on my.oracle.com where you can download the new components. The 10.1.2 and 10.1.3 release of JHeadstart is part of the supplement option.
New major releases are planned but not scheduled and can be given a new price.

7. Is there a discussion forum?
Yes there is a discussion forum on OTN. You can ask questions and the JHeadstart Team monitors the list, moderates the discussion and provides answers on a best effort basis. There is no guarantee that an answer will be given.

8. Is it supported other than through the discussion forum?
Support is arranged through Oracle Consulting on a time and material basis and not hrough Oracle Support Services. Some Oracle Countries have introduced Oracle Consulting Ticketbooks. These can be used to acquire support on JHeadstart as well.

Partners

9. Are partners allowed to buy Oracle JHeadstart?
Yes, partners are allowed to buy Oracle JHeadstart but only for use on internal development projects. If they want to use Oracle JHeadstart for the development of an application system that is build for a 3rd party, that 3rd party has to acquire licenses for the partner's resources.
Independent Software Vendors that develop packaged applications for multiple customers and are member of the Oracle Partner Network are allowed to develop these packaged applications with their Oracle JHeadstart licenses. In this case the end-customer does not need to pay for Oracle JHeadstart licenses. In the case that the end customers wants to customize the packaged application customer needs to acquire Oracle JHeadstart licenses.

10. Are partners allowed to resell Oracle JHeadstart?
No.

Services and Training

11. Which consulting services are available?
The following services are available for customers that are interested in JDeveloper in combination with JHeadstart:

• J2EE Pilot (4 days)
  During a J2EE pilot on Oracle JHeadstart consultant wil develop a system in 4 days based on your requirements. During the pilot the consultants will transfer knowledge to your development staff. At the end the application will be demonstrated and an advice is given how your organization can proceed with J2EE in your organization.
  
• ADF JHeadstart Workshop (5 days)
  A 5 day workshop (either through Oracle University or on site) where an experienced Oracle Consultant trains your development staff using JHeadstart. It is possible to use your own applications in this workshop. This workshop will also be available on a regular basis as a generic workshop.
  
• JHeadstart Project Support - depends on projects
  You have decided to use JHeadstart but want to be sure it is applied correctly and have a seasoned Oracle Consultant on site to quickly solve issues that may arise. Oracle offers JHeadstart Project Support in this situation.
  
• JHeadstart Application Development (Oracle Consulting executes the projects)
  Of course Oracle Consulting can do the whole project for you using JHeadstart. This can either be on site or in one of Oracle's E-Business Studio's.

The following services are available for customers that are interested in Forms to Java migration:

• JHeadstart Forms to Java Quick Scan (2-10 days)
  In this Quick Scan Oracle Consulting investigates what it takes to migrate your forms application to J2EE. We not only scan your applications but also your development team, development approach, technical architecture and impact on end users.
  
• JHeadstart Forms to Java Pilot (1-4 weeks)
  The pilot demonstrates how JHeadstart can help you to move to J2EE. You will see what JHeadstart does for you and what it does not. It shows you where you have to make choices and gives you hands on experience. This service is a great start if you want to migrate your Forms or want to create a hybrid application from one single meta data repository; Forms applications for the power end users and J2EE/HTML applications for field personnel or the internet.
  
• JHeadstart Forms to Java Migration (depends on scope)
  In this service Oracle Consulting actually migrates your applications to J2EE. Duration of this service depends on the result of the Quick Scan and the Pilot.
  
• ADF JHeadstart Workshop (5 days)
  A 5 day workshop (either through Oracle University or on site) where an experienced Oracle Consultant trains your development staff using JHeadstart. It is possible to use your own applications in this workshop.

For more information about these services contact your Oracle Consulting Representative or send an e-mail to idevcoe_nl@oracle.com.

12. Which training courses are available?

The following training courses are available:

• Oracle JDeveloper 10g: Build Applications with ADF (5 days) - Oracle University.
• ADF-JHeadstart workshop (5 days, also introduces ADF Business Components, ADF Faces) - Consulting - contact idevcoe_nl.

Technical Questions and Direction

13. What are the benefits of JHeadstart when I do not want to use the generators?
If you do not want to use the generators for some reason you can still benefit from JHeadstart. The JHeadstart runtime components provide you with best practice extensions to the ADF Framework.

14. What is status of JHeadstart Designer Generator in release 10.1.3?
Be aware that JHeadstart 10.1.3 does not include the JHeadstart Designer Generator (JDG). Support for the JDG in 10.1.3 is under consideration. This does not mean you cannot use the JDG. When you use JDeveloper 10.1.2 and JHeadstart 10.1.2 you can create the application Definition file from the Oracle Designer meta data. The Application Definition file can be used in JDeveloper 10.1.3 and JHeadstart 10.1.3 to generate the ADF Faces application. This is not an optimal situation but as a workaround works quite well.

15. What is the relationship between JHeadstart, ADF and ADF Faces?

JHeadstart 10.1.3 is fully based on ADF and ADF Faces. In other words JHeadstart generates ADF applications. JHeadstart adds an extra level of productivity by generating applications instead of building page by page using drag-and-drop. Furthermore it implements a number of best practices that Oracle Consulting experienced in different projects world-wide. The complete ADF Design time facilities can be used in every application that is generated with JHeadstart.

16. Not applicable anymore

17. What about JHeadstart and TopLink as a Model implementation?
TopLink cannot be used as Model Implementation with the current JHeadstart 10g for ADF release.

18. What about JHeadstart and CDM RuleFrame?
JHeadstart generated applications fully support CDM RuleFrame. This means that CDM RuleFrame validates business logic and reports errors back to the JHeadstart application in a similar way as it does for an Oracle Forms application. Both the JHeadstart application and the Forms application share the same business logic that is located in CDM RuleFrame in the database. Of course the use of CDM RuleFrame is not a prerequisite for the use of JHeadstart. You also have the option to include your business logic in ADF Business Components.

19. What is the future direction of JHeadstart?
JHeadstart will align with future development of ADF, especially in the area of rich clients. In addition we plan to add new generation capabilities for more complex layout structures to further enhance developer productivity and investigate integration with BPEL to further support the implementation of Service Oriented Architectures, including generation of a webservices API layer based on the Application Definition metadata.

20. With which versions of JDeveloper is JHeadstart 10g release 10.1.3 certified?
JHeadstart 10g release 10.1.3.1 is certified against JDeveloper 10.1.3.2 and 10.1.3.1. It can NOT be used with JDeveloper 10.1.3.0.
JHeadstart 10g release 10.1.3.0 is certified against JDeveloper 10.1.3.0 with Service Update 2 or higher. With Oracle JHeadstart Service Update 1 JHeadstart 10.1.3.0 is certified against Oracle JDeveloper 10.1.3.1. The evaluation verion is also certified with Oracle JDeveloper 10.1.3.1.

Version History