Some days ago Oracle released JHeadstart 10G. You can download an evaluation copy from otn.
JHeadstart is a generator for J2EE applications. You basically specify the application in an xml file and jHeadstart will generate a struts/jsp/uix/bcj4 application. Alternatively you can use Oracle Designer, and generate an application based on the contents of your repository.
Eventhough it’s version number might suggest otherwise, this release works best with jdeveloper 9.0.3., not with JDeveloper 10g preview, as it doesn’t use ADF. The next version of jHeadstart will support ADF.
JHeadstart is the first Java generator to have been succesfully used in the yearly RAD-Race. This is a yearly competition organized by Software release Magazine. Competitors have to create a complete administrative database application in only 2 days. This year the JHeadstart team finished 4th. 10 teams entered the competition, of which some already gave up on the first evening, because they couldn’t meet the requirements. The requirements consisted of some data entry screens, data loading functionality, reporting and web services. And all this in only 2 days.
The winning team, EDcubed, generated C++ code, but their tool can also generate Cobol or Java. Number two generated a proprietary 4GL. Number three generated .net code, and the Oracle team generated J2EE code.
What surprises me is that no Oracle Designer teams entered, but maybe this is caused by the fact that Oracle Designer is less suited for generating Html data entry applications and web services functionality.