1 Introduction to Oracle JDeveloper

Jdeveloper is an integrated development environment (IDE) for building applications. It builds applications using the latest standards for Java, XML, Web services, and SQL. This chapter provides an overview of Oracle JDeveloper. It includes the following sections.

For definitions of unfamiliar terms found in this and other books, see the Glossary.

About Oracle JDeveloper

JDeveloper is a cross-platform IDE for the Oracle Fusion Middleware suite of products and runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and other UNIX-based systems. It is available in two editions, provides XML-based application development for Java, SOA, Oracle WebCenter Portal, SQL and PL/SQL, HTML, and JavaScript.

Oracle JDeveloper supports the complete development life cycle with integrated features for modeling, coding, debugging, testing, profiling, tuning, and deploying applications. Jdeveloper is the main development platform for the Oracle Fusion Middleware suite of products. It is a cross-platform IDE that runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and other UNIX-based systems.

Oracle JDeveloper provides a visual and declarative development approach and works together with the Oracle ADF to simplify development.

Key features of Jdeveloper include:

  • A consistent development environment that can be used for various technology stacks including Java, SOA, Oracle WebCenter Portal, SQL and PL/SQL, HTML, and JavaScript.

  • XML-based application development.

  • A full development and modeling environment for building database objects and stored procedures.

  • A wide range of application deployment options, including Integrated Oracle WebLogic Server, an integrated run time service for running and testing applications before deploying to a production environment.

  • Extension capabilities that enable customization of the IDE based on development needs and add additional functionality.

Jdeveloper is available in two editions: Oracle JDeveloper Studio and Oracle JDeveloper Java. The Studio edition is the complete version of Jdeveloper and includes all features. The Java edition contains only the core Java and XML features, and offers shorter download times. This guide is applicable to both editions of Jdeveloper.

Oracle JDeveloper Information Resources

Oracle JDeveloper resources such as documentation, online demonstrations, tutorials, sample applications, Oracle JDeveloper Forum, and the Oracle Technology Network forum help you get started with application development.

Oracle JDeveloper includes resources designed to get you up and running quickly. You can learn about Oracle JDeveloper using various methods in addition to this guide, including online demonstrations, tutorials, and the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) forum. The following table lists several of these resources.

Table 1-1 Supporting Oracle JDeveloper Resources

Resource Description

OTN Oracle JDeveloper

The main page for Oracle JDeveloper is located at: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/jdev/overview/index.html

OTN Oracle JDeveloper Documentation

The main page for Oracle JDeveloper documentation is located at: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/jdev/documentation/index.html

Oracle JDeveloper Tutorials

The tutorials provide step-by-step instructions to accomplish specific tasks in Oracle JDeveloper.

The tutorials are located at: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E37547_01/tutorials/toc.htm

Sample Applications

The Summit sample applications for Oracle ADF are a set of applications developed with the purpose of demonstrating common use cases in ADF applications, including the integration between the components of the Oracle ADF technology stack (ADF Business Components, ADF Faces, ADF DVT Faces, and ADF Controller). The samples consist of several workspaces that demonstrate various features of component functionality. For descriptions of the sample code drawn from the Summit sample applications, see Introduction to the ADF Sample Application and other relevant sections in Developing Fusion Web Applications with Oracle Application Development Framework.

The sample applications are available from: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/jdev/documentation/index.html

OTN Oracle JDeveloper Forum

You can use the Oracle JDeveloper page on the OTN forum to ask a question, contribute to a discussion, or interact with other users.

The Oracle JDeveloper page on the OTN forum is located at: http://forums.oracle.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=83

Configuring Proxy Settings

Use the procedure to configure proxy settings if you need to customize the system proxy settings to external servers.

By default Jdeveloper uses the system proxy settings for your device. You might need to customize these settings to reach external servers.

To configure proxy settings:

  1. Choose Tools > Preferences > Web Browser and Proxy.
  2. Select the Proxy Settings tab.
  3. Select a proxy option and fill in any active fields.

    No Proxy. Select this option when your system does not use a proxy to access the internet.

    Use System Default Proxy Settings. Select this option to have the server use the default proxy settings on your machine. These are the settings configured in your OS (for Windows or Mac) or in your Window Manager. This includes the host, the port, and the exceptions, and you cannot add to or enhance those settings.

    The expectation is that your OS settings are correct and there is nothing else to add. To edit the settings for your operating system:

    • On Windows, go to Control Panel, Internet Options.

    • On MacOS go to System Preferences, Network, Advanced, Proxies.

    • On Linux, the proxy settings are configured in the window manager (for example, on Gnome, this is in System, Preferences, Network Proxy).

    Use Automatic Configuration Script. Specify the location of an automatic configuration script. For example, the URL for a corporate wpad.dat file (http://wpad.myhost.com/wpad.dat).

    Manual Proxy Settings. Manually define the proxy settings specifically for your organization. Like the System Defaults settings, the manual No Proxy settings are initially inherited from the OS. Once inherited, they can be modified, enhanced, or even replaced.

  4. Click Test Proxy to verify that any settings you provided are correct. If the test fails, verify that you have entered the correct URL, host information, or authentication information. and that you can access the external server through your network or VPN.
  5. When you have verified that you can connect to your proxy server, click OK.

Using an Automatic Configuration Script for Proxy Settings

Use the procedure to configure JDeveloper to use an automatic configuration script for proxy settings.

If your organization uses an automatic configuration script for proxy settings (for example, wpad.dat or similarly named scripts), you can configure Jdeveloper to use this script automatically.

To configure Jdeveloper to use an automatic configuration script:

  1. Choose Tools > Preferences > Web Browser and Proxy.
  2. Select the Proxy Settings tab.
  3. Select the option Use Automatic Configuration Script.
  4. In the Script field, enter the complete URL to the server on which the script resides.
  5. Click Test Proxy to verify that the URL is correct. If the test fails, verify that you have entered the correct URL, and that you can access that URL through your network or VPN.
  6. When you have verified that you can connect to your proxy server, click OK.

Jdeveloper will now automatically use the script at the specified URL for proxy settings.

Migrating to Oracle JDeveloper 12c

You can migrate applications and projects, or preferences and settings, from earlier versions of JDeveloper.

For complete information on supported migration paths, on how to migrate applications and projects or information about importing preferences and settings from an earlier version of Oracle JDeveloper to Oracle JDeveloper 12c, see Migrating Oracle JDeveloper From a Previous Version.