Re: Tales from the Dark Side

On 17 Mar 2006, at 14:11, Ken Collins wrote:

> For instance, I use an application now called SQL4X Manager J to  
> work in a few different databases. It has an E/R Modeler feature  
> that I find easy to use, although again, I'm just learning the  
> basics of structuring a DB.

EOModeler is an ORM (or whatever the acronym is supposed to be), not  
an ER design tool, although it could be used as such.  Mapping by  
convention, as used in RoR, is great for simple cases, but for more  
complex cases an intermediate configuration files is required, and  
eomodels (and wods) fit the bill.

That's the big difference in philosophy between WO and RoR; RoR says  
to avoid completely configuration files, and WO says to use a decent  
tool when you have to have them.  Or something like that.  It gives  
WO the edge for scalability, and access to legacy designs, but the  
simplifying assumptions that RoR wants you to make are admirable.

Paul