This is a book about developing applications that use the Oracle 8i database. Since the launch of Oracle 8i, developers have had the option of working not only with PL/SQL but also with Java and XML directly within the database. Oracle Corporation has vigorously supported the integration of these languages, and their associated development tools, into their core database products. These new languages may, or may not, be familiar to database programmers, but the chances are that even if you are experienced in PL/SQL, many of the new programming opportunities in the Oracle environment will be unfamiliar.

This book will show you how to build Java and XML-enabled applications that interact with Oracle 8i. You will be using a variety of tools, ranging from established ones such as Oracle Designer, to new tools such as Oracle Portal-to-Go. Mostly, however, you will be developing code by hand, learning about Java technologies, XML tools, building web applications, and solving enterprise development problems.