Timo,
Hi. I am addressing this to you since you wrote a very interesting response to the posting below, though I am happy to hear suggestions from anyone who might have an official Oracle point of view.
https://community.oracle.com/message/14100602#14100602
We are using 12.1.2 and will soon be updating to 12.2.1. We are moving from a designer environment into ADF. We are trying to set standards so Jdeveloper is easier to learn and we have just one way of doing things (The KISS principal). We also have a bunch of developers who need to learn ADF and so keeping things simple is a priority.
One of my main concerns is simplifying the learning curve. Given that, I considering using only Java at the model layer for calculations and validations -- not using Groovy.
These are the reasons:
1. We will need to know Java to code in JSF backing beans, therefore learning Java is a minimum. Given ADF's steep learning curve, requiring both a Java and Groovy background steepens that curve.
2. Maintainability: Having code in multiple places strains supportability. Centralizing it in Java makes it clear where changes to the application are being made. Developers wont have to hunt around an application.
3. Java provides more versatility.
4. Java compiles, so errors can be diagnosed at design time.
One thing that struck me in that posting is your comments on:
1. Groovy isn't as type safe as java is and although there are some more checks in 12c to avoid common mistakes, errors are going to occur at runtime, not design time, which makes it harder to support.
2. Some Groovy expressions don't work in 12c.
4. SQL based calculations are more efficient than groovy (and Java, I would assume).
5. The groovy scripts are now separate, which causes trouble in some cases. What kind of trouble?
In the past I have heard some grumblings about Java VS Groovy that Java might go away.... Would you please comment about java VS Groovy and whether I am off-base about this recommendation to concentrate on Java? What are the long-term plans for Java within ADF VS Groovy?
Thank you,
Stuart