Project Plan For Data Tools Platform, version 1.8

Introduction

The Data Tools Platform (DTP) project provides a framework and exemplary tooling for accessing database data. This is the plan for the DTP 1.8 release, which is part of the "Helios" (Eclipse 3.6) release train. This is the fourth Eclipse release train in which DTP has participated.

Release Deliverables

DTP provides two main deliverables: a "source" build for developers, which includes source code, and a "runtime" build for users, which provides only what is needed to use DTP.

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Release Milestones

The DTP project is a "+1" project for the Eclipse Helios release train. In general, "+1" projects are release a working day after the base platform is released. Note: the current Galileo build will be used as the Helios build for milestones M1 and M2.

M311/9/2009
Release train M3 +1 (M3 GA on 11/13/2009)
M412/14/2009
Release train M4 +1 (M4 GA on 12/18/2009)
M52/1/2010
Release train M5 +1 (M5 GA on 2/5/2010)
M63/15/2010
Release train M6 +1 (M5 GA on 3/19/2010)
M75/3/2010
Release train M7 +1 (M5 GA on 5/7/2010)
RC15/17/2010
Release train RC1 +1 (RC1 GA on 5/21/2010)
RC25/24/2010
Release train RC2 +1 (RC2 GA on 5/28/2010)
RC35/31/2010
Release train RC3 +1 (RC3 GA on 6/4/2010)
RC46/7/2010
Release train RC4 +1 (RC4 GA on 6/11/2010)
Final6/14/2010
Release train Final +1
1.86/23/2010

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Target Environments

The DTP project is compiled with Java 5. It is compatible with (but does not require) Java 6.

DTP 1.8 will be compatible with Eclipse version 3.5 and above.

Internationalization

DTP is included in the Babel project.

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Compatibility with Previous Releases

The goal for DTP 1.8 is that it will be "binary compatible" with DTP 1.7. That is, client applications that use DTP API's will not need to be recompiled to run with DTP 1.8.

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Themes and Priorities

The DTP project is has reached a stage of maturity where stability has become more important than adding new features and function. The primary participating companies (Actuate, IBM, and Sybase) continue to use DTP, but they have reduced the amount of resource assigned to the project so that change activity is limited to small enhancements and important bug fixes. This is reflected in the themes for this release.

Improved RCP Enablement

Improve the enablement in DTP for the creation of RCP-based data access tooling. One of the oldest open requests since DTP started has been for the creation of a stand-alone RCP tool for database development. We have some enhancements in this area (developed with the help of Ingres) we want to get into DTP. These enhancements will "incubate" for a while and won't be part of the regular build, but will be available for user to try out and extend.

Improved Result Set Handling in the Open Data Access Framework

Enhance the ODA API to support specifying dynamic result set operations and handle additional result set types.

Continuing Quality Improvements

Continue fixing important bugs as identified by the participating companies and the DTP community.

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