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Difference Between ADF and OAF

  • Post last modified:February 28, 2023
  • Reading time:17 mins read
  • Post category:Technology
Contents hide
  1. 1. Explanation of ADF and OAF
  2. 2. Difference Between ADF and OAF
    1. 2.1. ADF vs. OAF: Architecture
    2. 2.2. ADF vs. OAF: Development Process
    3. 2.3. ADF vs. OAF: User Interface
    4. 2.4. ADF vs. OAF: Integration
    5. 2.5. ADF vs. OAF: Performance
    6. 2.6. ADF vs. OAF: Licensing
    7. 2.7. References Website

Explanation of ADF and OAF

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) are both software development frameworks created by Oracle Corporation. These frameworks are designed to help developers create enterprise-level applications that can be deployed on the Oracle technology stack.

ADF is an end-to-end Java EE-based framework that simplifies application development by providing pre-built infrastructure components, reusable UI components, and an integrated development environment (IDE) that can be used to build and deploy enterprise applications. It provides a model-driven architecture and supports various development styles, including declarative and programmatic development.

OAF, on the other hand, is a framework for creating extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. It provides a set of pre-built components and libraries that can be used to extend the functionality of Oracle E-Business Suite applications. It also provides an IDE for developers to build, test, and deploy their applications.

ADF is a general-purpose application development framework that can be used for building a wide range of enterprise-level applications, while OAF is a specialized framework for extending Oracle E-Business Suite applications.

Difference Between ADF and OAF

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different architectural styles and approaches. In this section, we will explore the architecture of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF vs. OAF: Architecture

ADF Architecture: ADF has a model-driven architecture that separates the user interface from the underlying business logic. The architecture consists of the following components:

  1. Business Services: ADF Business Components are used to create reusable business logic components that can be used across multiple applications.
  2. Data Services: ADF Data Controls are used to connect to data sources, retrieve data and populate the user interface.
  3. User Interface: ADF Faces is the UI component library that is used to create web pages and mobile applications.
  4. Navigation and Control: ADF Task Flows are used to create reusable navigation flows that can be shared across multiple pages or applications.

ADF’s architecture allows developers to build reusable and maintainable applications with a high level of flexibility. The architecture is suitable for applications that require a high degree of complexity and customization.

OAF Architecture: OAF’s architecture is based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern. The architecture consists of the following components:

  1. Model: OAF’s model component includes the business logic and data access layer.
  2. View: The view component is responsible for rendering the user interface and is created using OAF’s UI components.
  3. Controller: OAF’s controller component manages user interaction and directs user requests to the appropriate business logic component.

OAF’s architecture is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. The architecture is designed to work seamlessly with Oracle E-Business Suite and provides out-of-the-box integration with its components.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s architecture provides a high level of flexibility and allows developers to build complex applications with reusable components. However, the architecture requires a steep learning curve and may not be suitable for applications that require a simple development approach.

OAF’s architecture is easy to learn and suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the architecture may not be suitable for building complex applications that require a high degree of customization and flexibility.

ADF’s architecture provides more flexibility and is suitable for building complex applications, while OAF’s architecture is easy to learn and is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications.

ADF vs. OAF: Development Process

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different development processes. In this section, we will explore the development processes of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF Development Process: ADF development process is typically done using Oracle Developer, an IDE specifically designed for developing ADF applications. The development process typically includes the following steps:

  1. Analysis: During the analysis phase, requirements are gathered, and use cases are defined.
  2. Design: The design phase involves creating the UI design and defining the application’s architecture and components.
  3. Implementation: The implementation phase involves writing the application code, including business logic and data access components.
  4. Testing: In the testing phase, the application is tested to ensure that it meets the requirements and is bug-free.
  5. Deployment: The deployment phase involves packaging the application and deploying it to the target environment.

ADF’s development process is suitable for building complex enterprise applications that require a structured and well-defined development approach. However, the development process can be time-consuming, and the learning curve for the IDE can be steep.

OAF Development Process: The OAF development process is typically done using Oracle Developer, the same IDE used for ADF development. The development process typically includes the following steps:

  1. Analysis: During the analysis phase, requirements are gathered, and use cases are defined.
  2. Design: The design phase involves creating the UI design and defining the application’s architecture and components.
  3. Implementation: The implementation phase involves writing the application code, including business logic and data access components.
  4. Testing: In the testing phase, the application is tested to ensure that it meets the requirements and is bug-free.
  5. Deployment: The deployment phase involves packaging the application and deploying it to the target environment.

OAF’s development process is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. The development process is easy to learn and can be completed quickly. However, the development process may not be suitable for building complex enterprise applications that require a more structured and well-defined development approach.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s development process provides a structured and well-defined approach to application development, which is suitable for building complex enterprise applications. However, the development process can be time-consuming and requires a steep learning curve for the IDE.

OAF’s development process is easy to learn and can be completed quickly, which is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the development process may not be suitable for building complex enterprise applications that require a more structured and well-defined development approach.

ADF’s development process is suitable for building complex enterprise applications that require a structured and well-defined development approach, while OAF’s development process is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications and may not be suitable for building complex enterprise applications.

ADF vs. OAF: User Interface

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different approaches to creating user interfaces. In this section, we will explore the user interface of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF User Interface: ADF uses ADF Faces as its UI component library. ADF Faces provides a rich set of UI components that can be used to create complex and highly customizable user interfaces. The UI components can be used to create responsive and mobile-friendly user interfaces.

ADF Faces components can be easily styled using CSS and can be integrated with other UI frameworks like Bootstrap. The UI components can be easily bound to data sources using ADF Data Controls, which simplify data access and enable rapid development.

ADF’s user interface is suitable for applications that require complex and highly customizable user interfaces. The UI components provide a high degree of flexibility and can be easily integrated with other UI frameworks.

OAF User Interface: OAF uses a proprietary UI component library that is specifically designed for Oracle E-Business Suite applications. The UI components are highly integrated with Oracle E-Business Suite and provide a consistent look and feel across all the applications.

The UI components provide out-of-the-box integration with Oracle E-Business Suite’s security and personalization features. The UI components are highly customizable and can be extended to meet specific business requirements.

OAF’s user interface is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. The UI components provide a consistent look and feel across all the applications, which can improve user adoption and reduce training costs.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s user interface provides a high degree of flexibility and customization, which is suitable for applications that require complex and highly customizable user interfaces. However, the UI components may require more time and effort to learn and master.

OAF’s user interfaces preclude a consistent look and feel across all the applications, which is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the UI components may not be suitable for building applications that require a high degree of customization.

ADF’s user interface is suitable for building complex and highly customizable user interfaces, while OAF’s user interface is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications and provides a consistent look and feel across all the applications.

ADF vs. OAF: Integration

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different approaches to integration. In this section, we will explore the integration capabilities of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF Integration: ADF provides several integration capabilities that enable applications to integrate with external systems and services. ADF supports integration with:

  1. Web services: ADF can consume and publish web services, enabling integration with external systems.
  2. REST APIs: ADF can consume and publish REST APIs, enabling integration with modern web applications.
  3. Enterprise Service Bus (ESB): ADF can integrate with ESBs like Oracle Service Bus, enabling integration with backend systems.
  4. Java Messaging Service (JMS): ADF can integrate with JMS, enabling messaging between applications.
  5. Oracle Fusion Middleware: ADF is part of Oracle Fusion Middleware, enabling integration with other Fusion Middleware products.

ADF’s integration capabilities make it suitable for building enterprise applications that require integration with external systems and services. The integration capabilities are highly customizable and can be extended to meet specific business requirements.

OAF Integration: OAF is specifically designed for integration with Oracle E-Business Suite applications. OAF provides several integration capabilities that enable extensions to integrate with Oracle E-Business Suite, including:

  1. Integration with Oracle Forms: OAF provides integration with Oracle Forms, enabling seamless integration with existing Oracle E-Business Suite applications.
  2. Integration with Oracle Workflow: OAF provides integration with Oracle Workflow, enabling automated business processes within Oracle E-Business Suite.
  3. Integration with Oracle Discoverer: OAF provides integration with Oracle Discoverer, enabling integration with Oracle E-Business Suite reporting capabilities.

OAF’s integration capabilities make it suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. The integration capabilities are highly integrated with Oracle E-Business Suite and provide a consistent user experience across all the applications.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s integration capabilities provide a high degree of flexibility and customization, which is suitable for building enterprise applications that require integration with external systems and services. However, the integration capabilities may require more time and effort to learn and master.

OAF’s integration capabilities provide seamless integration with Oracle E-Business Suite applications, which is suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the integration capabilities may not be suitable for building applications that require integration with external systems and services.

ADF’s integration capabilities are suitable for building enterprise applications that require integration with external systems and services, while OAF’s integration capabilities are suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications and provide seamless integration with Oracle E-Business Suite.

ADF vs. OAF: Performance

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different performance characteristics. In this section, we will explore the performance of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF Performance: ADF provides several features to optimize application performance, including:

  1. ADF Task Flows: ADF Task Flows provide a way to organize application logic into reusable components, which can improve application performance by reducing duplicate code.
  2. ADF Data Controls: ADF Data Controls provide a way to manage data access and caching, which can improve application performance by reducing database round trips.
  3. ADF Bindings: ADF Bindings provide a way to bind UI components to data sources, which can improve application performance by reducing the amount of code needed to manage UI component data.

ADF’s performance can be optimized by using these features effectively. However, the performance of ADF applications may be impacted by the amount of data being processed, as well as the complexity of the UI components.

OAF Performance: OAF is designed to optimize performance for Oracle E-Business Suite applications. OAF provides several features to optimize application performance, including:

  1. Client-side caching: OAF supports client-side caching of frequently accessed data, which can improve application performance by reducing database round trips.
  2. Minimal server-side processing: OAF minimizes server-side processing by pushing as much logic as possible to the client side, which can improve application performance by reducing server load.
  3. Leverage Oracle Database features: OAF leverages features of Oracle Database, such as stored procedures and views, which can improve application performance by reducing database round trips.

OAF’s performance is optimized for Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the performance of OAF extensions may be impacted by the complexity of the UI components and the amount of data being processed.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s performance can be optimized by using its features effectively, making it suitable for building applications that require a high degree of flexibility and customization. However, the performance of ADF applications may be impacted by the amount of data being processed and the complexity of the UI components.

OAF’s performance is optimized for Oracle E-Business Suite applications, making it suitable for building extensions to Oracle E-Business Suite applications. However, the performance of OAF extensions may be impacted by the complexity of the UI components and the amount of data being processed.

ADF’s performance can be optimized by using its features effectively, while OAF’s performance is optimized for Oracle E-Business Suite applications.

ADF vs. OAF: Licensing

ADF (Application Development Framework) and OAF (Oracle Application Framework) have different licensing models. In this section, we will explore the licensing of both frameworks and compare their strengths and weaknesses.

ADF Licensing: ADF is licensed as part of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Oracle Fusion Middleware is licensed based on the number of processors on which it runs. A processor is defined as each CPU on a server where the software is installed and/or running. There are different types of licenses available, including:

  1. Oracle Universal Credits: Oracle Universal Credits are a flexible, pay-as-you-go licensing model that can be used across multiple Oracle products, including ADF. This licensing model is suitable for organizations with variable workloads and changing IT environments.
  2. Traditional Licensing: Traditional licensing is a perpetual license that is purchased upfront and allows the customer to use the software indefinitely. This licensing model is suitable for organizations with stable workloads and predictable IT environments.

ADF’s licensing model provides flexibility for organizations with different needs. However, the licensing costs may be higher for organizations with a large number of processors.

OAF Licensing: OAF is licensed as part of Oracle E-Business Suite. Oracle E-Business Suite is licensed based on the number of named users and the modules that are licensed. There are different types of licenses available, including:

  1. Full Use: Full Use licenses allow the customer to use all the features and functionality of Oracle E-Business Suite. This licensing model is suitable for organizations that require access to all the modules of Oracle E-Business Suite.
  2. Limited Use: Limited Use licenses allow the customer to use specific modules of Oracle E-Business Suite. This licensing model is suitable for organizations that require access to a limited set of modules.

OAF’s licensing model is optimized for organizations that use Oracle E-Business Suite. However, the licensing costs may be higher for organizations that only require access to specific modules of Oracle E-Business Suite.

Strengths and Weaknesses: ADF’s licensing model provides flexibility for organizations with different needs. However, the licensing costs may be higher for organizations with a large number of processors. ADF’s licensing model may be more suitable for organizations that require a high degree of flexibility and customization.

OAF’s licensing model is optimized for organizations that use Oracle E-Business Suite. However, the licensing costs may be higher for organizations that only require access to specific modules of Oracle E-Business Suite. OAF’s licensing model may be more suitable for organizations that require seamless integration with Oracle E-Business Suite.

ADF’s licensing model provides flexibility for organizations with different needs, while OAF’s licensing model is optimized for organizations that use Oracle E-Business Suite.

Conclusion

ADF and OAF differ in terms of architecture, development process, user interface, integration, performance, and licensing. ADF’s architecture is based on Java EE and supports a wide range of development tools and technologies, while OAF’s architecture is based on Oracle Forms and supports a more limited set of development tools and technologies.

ADF’s development process is more flexible and customizable, while OAF’s development process is more tightly integrated with Oracle E-Business Suite. ADF’s user interface is more modern and customizable, while OAF’s user interface is more consistent with Oracle E-Business Suite.

ADF and OAF both support integration with other Oracle products, but ADF provides more flexibility in terms of integration options. ADF also has a better performance compared to OAF.

Finally, the licensing models of ADF and OAF differ in terms of cost and flexibility. ADF’s licensing model provides more flexibility but may be more expensive for organizations with a large number of processors, while OAF’s licensing model is optimized for organizations that use Oracle E-Business Suite but may be more expensive for organizations that only require access to specific modules.

The choice between ADF and OAF depends on the specific needs and requirements of an organization. Both frameworks have their strengths and weaknesses, and organizations need to evaluate these factors carefully before making a decision.

References Website

Here are some references to websites that provide more information on ADF and OAF:

  1. Oracle ADF Documentation – https://docs.oracle.com/en/middleware/developer-tools/adf/
  2. Oracle ADF Developer’s Guide – https://docs.oracle.com/en/middleware/developer-tools/adf/12.2.1.4/develop/index.html
  3. Oracle OAF Documentation – https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/oracle-applications-cloud/oracle-application-framework/oaf.html
  4. Oracle OAF Developer’s Guide – https://docs.oracle.com/en/applications/oracle-applications-cloud/oracle-application-framework/19a/oafdv/index.html
  5. Oracle ADF vs. OAF – https://www.oraexcel.com/blog/oracle-adf-vs-oaf-difference-between-adf-and-oaf

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