Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Third Edition

Chapter 19. Managing PL/SQL Applications

Writing the code for an application is just one step toward putting that application into production and then maintaining the code base. It is not possible within the scope of this book to fully address the entire lifecycle of application design, development, and deployment. We do have room, however, to offer some ideas and advice about the following topics:

Managing and analyzing code in the database

When you compile PL/SQL programs, the source code is loaded into the data dictionary in a variety of forms (the text of the code, dependency relationships, parameter information, etc.). You can therefore use SQL to query these dictionaries to help you manage your code base.

Protecting stored code

Oracle offers a way to “wrap” source code so that confidential and proprietary information can be hidden from prying eyes. This utility is most useful to vendors who sell applications based on PL/SQL stored code.

Using native compilation

Beginning with Oracle9i, PL/SQL source code may optionally be compiled into native object code that is linked into Oracle. Native compilation can result in significant improvement in overall application performance (its impact is felt in compute-intensive programs, but does not affect SQL performance).

Testing PL/SQL programs

This chapter offers suggestions for PL/SQL program testing based on the open source unit testing framework, utPLSQL.

Debugging PL/SQL programs

Many development tools now offer graphical debuggers ...