Oracle Content Management SDK

Question

Let's see if we can get a thread going in regards to Oracle's << apparent >> intent to cease bundling iFS with the
Oracle 9i Database Server. In a statement shared with me just a little bit ago, Oracle states that licensing implications
for current database customers using what is to be called << in 9.0.3 >> the Oracle Content Management SDK is to be
determined...
Bunk! Now that they have people roped in, they're going to break the API out, and license << big $$$$, no doubt >>
it separately! Go Micro$oft! errrr... oracle...

Answer 1

Robert,
I would say that there are pro's and con's to both arguments. If you want to make use of iFS with ID, Web Cache etc then you're going to need a copy of 9iAS anyway and as iFS becomes more integrated with various applications then you can see where Oracle is coming from.
If you are a software house developing solutions based on iFS then this makes the licensing issue much cleaner and simpler for clients to understand (something which we have come up against as iFS is availabe in 9iDB and 9iAS). It also means that iFS should receive greater exposure within Oracle as the account managers are more likely to do something with it as it is a revenue generator.
Naturally the other side is if you are developing an application or just using iFS in house then having to purchase 9iAS can seem like unwanted overhead. I think over the coming months we are likely to see iFS more tightly integrated with iAS so eventually to make use of that additional functionality you will need a copy of iAS. I guess it depends what you are doing with it as the API is likely to be packaged in a similar way as other dev kits.
Regards,
Bernard Wright
Technical Director
Serengeti Systems