I just added two additional links to the Resources Page from my searching around recently:

• Kansas Government Help Desk
• California State University: PeopleSoft Student Administration Support

I just read this article from InfoWorld:

Google: Oracle lacks developer focus

The article kind of struck a chord with me.  I have long thought that PeopleSoft is sold to the executives and not to the developers.  Don’t get me wrong.  I think PeopleSoft is a great product, but it lacks a few developer features that I would like to see.  And, I would guess that the executives that make the decisions for purchasing aren’t going to pay for features like that.

The features I am talking about are things like code completion, refactoring, and indexing the code for searching.  Eclipse has many of those features with Java code.  Why can’t Application Designer do those things?  Is it because those features aren’t marketable to the executive?

The article makes the point that the product should be focused on the customer.  While I agree, I think placing some focus on the developer would provide some value to the customer.  Adding those features gives the software the ability adjust to changing business demands.  When users request a customization in PeopleSoft, what questions are asked?  How long with it take to develop versus how much benefit will it provide?  How maintainable is it going forward?

How many change requests are denied because the change would cost too much to develop or maintain?  Doesn’t the customer benefit by some level of developer focus?

So, while I think the customer should get focus, I don’t think the developer should be forgotten.  I would like Oracle to give the developer a little more focus in the PeopleSoft world.  But, hey, I am a little biased.

Today, I was doing some research on how Combined Sections work.  I found this video from the University of Southern Mississippi:

PeopleSoft Class Schedule Entry: Combined Section

Watching the video helped me figure out what I needed to do.  The version was a little old, but I found the same page at Curriculum Management > Combined Sections > Identify Combined Sections (in version 9.0).

It looks like there are a lot more videos here that might prove helpful in the future, so I am bookmarking this page!

University of Southern Mississippi: PeopleSoft Class Schedule Entry

A long time ago, I found Tony DeLia’s webite as a great resource for SQR.  I thought it was gone because I searched for once and couldn’t find it.  I don’t remember the circumstances now, but I ran across it just recently.

Here is the link:

SQR Tools / Tips

I ran across this blog post, and I thought it worth mentioning.  Jim Marion has written a book called PeopleSoft PeopleTools Tips and Techniques.   Sounds like a great book to me.  I guess I can’t get a copy just by linking to it?  Just kidding.

I have been coding a VB.Net interface to PeopleSoft, and needed the ability to read and write INI Files. This link really helped me out:

Developer.com: INI Files Will Never Die: How-To in .NET

I came across a couple of links regarding newer versions of PeopleSoft.

The first live version of HCM9.1 is Ricoh Electronics.  Sounds exciting — I am ready for a project like that 🙂

I also saw that Oracle is requesting feedback and stories on implementing PeopleTools 8.50.  I have my hands in that a little, but I wish I had more to report.

This article interested me:

Computer World: Oracle to provide Sun road map next week

I am curious what this will mean for some of Sun products.  The ones that strike my curiosity are:

MySQL: Oracle bought a piece of MySQL already.  Now they are buying the whole thing.  I wonder what this means to the business model and distribution.  Are they going to keep it open source in the same fashion?  Note that Oracle already owns the Inno DB Engine for MySQL (see Wikipedia)

Solaris: Oracle already has Unbreakable Linux.   So, this makes the second OS for them.

Java: Oracle already has the JRocket VM from Bea.  Are they going to merge them, or do they fit different niches?

Virtual Box:  Oracle already has their Oracle VM, which is based off of Xen.  Again, will they try to merge them?

Hardware: I liked the suggestion that maybe Oracle might offer a Database Appliance with both their software and hardware.  The problem is that database implementations are so varied, it would be hard to create a one size fits all solution.

Open Office: I almost forgot this one.  This puts Oracle more in competition with Microsoft.  This is the one major alternative for MS Office.  This could put a big hurting on the world of Linux if Oracle harms Open Office.

Net Beans: Oracle already has JDeveloper.  Again, this is more redundancy.

Well, I guess we will find out more tomorrow.  Although, I still wonder if they are still changing their plans for PeopleSoft.  Sun is such a large company, there is no way they could come up with a perfect plan that they won’t have to change something.  We may have to wait 5 years or more to see where they take it.

Other related articles:

Bex Huf: Finally! Oracle Gets Approval for Sun Acquisition!

The H Open Source: Oracle clarifies plans for Java tools and OpenOffice

Information Work: MySQL Users Wary On Oracle Acquisition

What company is next?:

The ORACLE-BASE Blog: Red Hat heading for Oracle buyout?

I remember reading someone mentioning that when Red Hat bought JBoss, it put them in competition with Oracle.  Then, we saw Oracle start selling Unbreakable Linux.  I wonder if they are really on the radar?