David,
We all love WebObjects because it is a terrific development environment, one that you appreciate all the more when you try the alternatives. But all it takes is a dice search to understand that j2ee and .Net dominate (like thousands of jobs vs 10 jobs). Apple is deep in WebObjects because of the infrastructure it has built using it, but has no business interest in it any more. At one time when WebObjects was THE web development tool they might have used it as a wedge to sell other Apple products (since it came in through the IT Dept. front door instead of the Graphics Dept. back door), but that's when it sold for $25,000. The opportunity has passed.
I believe that as late as today WebObjects might find a life if it was open-sourced. I base this on the amazing proliferation of j2ee and other frameworks, which go to show that the problem is not solved. It's wild how much more work it is to do a site in struts than WebObjects, for example. But apparently Apple either has a positive reason not to do this (say legal reasons) or a negative reason (like there's nothing in it for them), so it appears unlikely to occur.
WebObjects won't go away soon, but simply cannot be a growth area under the present circumstances, no matter what features they add. Wonderful tool, bad prospects. Better to look at Ruby on Rails if you're a technology lover or j2ee if you're a practical guy.
Jim
On Aug 25, 2006, at 9:26 PM, David Sanchez wrote:
Hi!
I am new to WebObjects and new in the list. I decide to learn WebObjects to get a wider understanding of technologies MVC. The other MVC I know of is Oracle ADC trough JDeveloper, but due to recent changes in licensing policies it has become too expensive for small business solutions (5000 dollars and up just for ADC).
I think I got the worse time to learn WebObjects. All the tutorials in the Apple Web Site are referring to deprecated apps like EOModeler, and most of the books out there talk about them too.
I do not think Apple would convert iTunes Music Store and Apple website away from WebObjects. I do not know if there is any indication of it. I do not think Apple will also relay on WOLips to develop its WO solutions (iTMS+Apple Store).
Can someone tell me if WebObjects is dying? I think people who signed any NDA agreement can answer that question.
I know Steve Jobs and Oracle's CEO has very good relationships and I would hate to see that after I learn WebObjects they announce it is dead.
I mean I could spend the time learning another technology.
About the thinksecret post I found something a little disturbing... Is it real the WebObjects team at Apple is as large as 4 people?
I have read in this list almost all of the current Apple tools to develop WebObjects are deprecated. How come 4 people can make a new Java-based Web Object Development environment in reasonable time frame? Is it possible?
I love Apple technologies, but it is very tough decision for a new WO comer to buy books, start training and read tutorials and documentation about a technology which tools are deprecated. Can someone give a breath of relief?
And something I do not understand, if Apple is committed to WO, Why did not show the new tools first and then deprecate the old ones?
Thank you,
David Sanchez