ProC vs Pl/SQL

[Guest_imported]

Hi

I work in MIS department where daily run of batches transfer the data from the subsystems database to the MIS database. Currently these programs are written in Pro*C with embedded sql statements.

Now we are going to re-write these programs and I would like to know is what technology we should use for developing these new programs. The options are: (We have Oracle8i server with the latest pro*c compiler)

1. PL/SQL

Since the batches transfer the data from one database to another, I am quite apprehensive about the performance of these program while accessing the remote database using the DB Link. Please advise. I have heard that PL/SQL (in Oracle 8i) can now perform much better than the previous Oracle versions.

2. Pro*C will calls to stored procedures.

This approach can explicitly connect to 2 or more databases and hence a worthwhile option too.

Please advise.

Pankaj Seth

 

[MikeLacey]

Hi Pankaj,

It seems to me that both of these approaches would work acceptably well.

Pure PL/SQL will probably be cheaper to maintain in the future; C programs can get pretty nasty after a while as I'm sure you know. Unless you need to interact with the operating system I suggest that pure PL/SQL might well be a good choice, no problems with portability in the future should that become an issue as well.

Rather than Pro*C (which is perfectly fine and I've used it in the past) have you considered Perl and the DBI to access Oracle? I've found that Perl programs are significantly easier to maintain -- and *much* easier to find people who know Perl than who know Pro*C. Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com
Email welcome if you're in a hurry or something -- but post in tek-tips as well please, and I will post my reply here as well.