Re: A "Why WebObjects" Site / Initial Thoughts Please
Re: A "Why WebObjects" Site / Initial Thoughts Please
- Subject: Re: A "Why WebObjects" Site / Initial Thoughts Please
- From: Dario Bagatto <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 14:16:27 +0200
Hi all,
Although I see a lack of direction regarding WebObjects I don't fear
that it will go away that quick and I certainly do not want to switch
any of my WebObjects projects to anything else for now (although I
always have an open eye for new things).
Ryan I really like your idea and I think such a site would be of big
help. OK there are web sites around dedicated to WebObjects development
or WebObjects projects but most of them are focussing on an audience
that already knows WebObjects and know of the distinct parts of it like
EOF, JavaClient, etc.
What is missing IMHO is a site that handles WebObjects related stuff
for an audience that only knows very little about WebObjects an
audience which probably is using non WebObjects vocabulary in their
searches (often terms coming from the J2EE or .NET world). There are
also two kind of newbies those that are new to development in general
and are now starting development with WebObjects and there are the
experienced [Java] developers just new to the WebObjects technology.
Such a site may try to serve both of them but this also means to use a
simpler vocabulary for absolute development newbies and adequate
educated vocabulary for the experienced developers which compare
WebObjects to something they know or currently use. They could also
find info on how to smoothly integrate WebObjects within their
currently used development environment.
One thing is advocating WebObjects, so that it is better known and that
it may become easier to bring it up as a potential technology for
clients and/or company management. Having adequate material and/or
resources surely helps to sell WebObjects to these guys.
But I think there is also another underestimated problem (and I speak a
little from experience) that can be addressed by such a site. Let's
suppose I as an executive group leader was able to convince my
management to finally select a technology like WebObjects for a new
project (this already as we all know may be a hard task).
To make the project a success I need as always the support of my
developers. Now usually if you start with a new technology your
development team has to learn this technology first. If this team does
not find answers and resources fast and easy they may get frustrated
and you start to hear things like "... it does not work at all and I
don't know why...", "... no I could not find anything about this on the
web..." or "... with another technology like EJB it would be much
easier..." etc. etc. It may very fast come to a point where all
spurious errors appearing during development suddenly are solely
because of the newly adopted technology and suggestions come up to move
back to another technology the developer team knows better. Once this
happens the project will most probably fail and this also means
WebObjects as new technology will be hard to bring up ever again! [You
may argue that this is just a management problem and one can force the
developers to work with it and period but first IMHO I don't think this
helps to introduce a new technology and second it kills innovation. ]
Having a dedicated site aimed at a clear defined audience helps that
experienced developers new to WebObjects get answers, how-tos, examples
and contact to other WebObjects developers.
There is a big potential but I am also realistic, such a site means a
BIG effort and is nothing that is build within a short period of time
and needs a bunch of helping hands especially to maintain it, as it is
quite important to be current and to provide regular updates. I also
think that it is important to have a clear concept with a focussed goal
of this initiative first before starting at all.
Last but not least I would certainly try to give a helping hand and to
contribute to such a site if I can be of any help,
best regards
Dario
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