Just to add some context, I'll use this legend:
M = Me
E = EOF guys
H = Hibernate/Spring guys
Meh. Something like that.
[1] E/H - Found creating a new model confusing. Especially since they
weren't familiar with the concepts of DataDomain, etc. Basically,
they get a blank window and have no idea where to start, even though
they are familiar with ORM modeling techniques. "I hate to be the
typical Windows user, but some kind of wizard would be nice." (Said by
a guy developing on OS X.) Even I recall being a little confused by
what domains, maps, and nodes were when I first started coming from
EOF.
[2] E - Wanted the OS X concept of a wrapper/bundle for the model
files. Essentially, he wanted to be able to name his model file
(something other than cayenne.xml), but as we talked more he wanted a
bundle that he can name ("MyProject" -> MyProject.cayenne directory)
and then the cayenne.xml, etc files would be under there.
[3] H - One guy used Cayenne quite a bit, but eventually ditched the
modeler and edited the XML by hand. "It's not intuitive. I was
confused. I remember having so many problems setting up the correct
path so when files were generated they had the right path and package
names." I'm not sure which version of the modeler he was using, but
probably 2.x.
[4] M/E/H - Allow multiple projects to be open at the same time. The
EOF guy considered this a bug.
[5] H - More useful validation. "When it is validating the mapping
file, I dont find its output useful at all. Since the mapping works
despite the warnings raised in the modeler, I question the value of
those warnings." I think he was probably using 2.x then.
[6] E - After generating DB schema, menu bar gets blitzed. I told him
this was due to a recent OS X update and hopefully Apple will fix it
soon.
[7] M - If you rename a DB attribute, it doesn't change the name in
the ObjEntity even if you remember to sync the class.
[8] E - "I can't figure out how to flatten a relationship." I had to
fess up and tell him that I didn't know, either.
[9] M - Recent projects list. When launching CM, I see a nice list
with "/Volumes/Macintosh_HD/Users/mgentry/Projects/Eclipse/Works..."
This fills up my recent projects list and I can't tell what is what.
[10] M - If you select an ObjEntity and look at the attributes, then
resize a column (say, Java Type) so you can read everything in the
column, then select something else, then come back to that same
ObjEntity, the column doesn't retain the size you had set. I suspect
this applies to more than just the attributes tab (too lazy to go try
the others right now).
[11] M - Generate Classes should probably show the entities first,
then the code generator. Perhaps put both in the same window so it is
obvious what is being done. The text "One entity selected" is a
little too easy to ignore at the bottom of the window.
[12] M - Generate Database Schema has similar problems to the Generate
Classes, but is also inconsistent. In GC, if you select the Map it
will generate all classes by default, but if you select an ObjEntity
it'll just generate that one class. In GDS it doesn't matter which
you select, it will do ALL tables. Of course, you might easily miss
this as the tables tab isn't the first thing selected and the GDS
window doesn't tell you how many are selected (unlike GC). Or you
might get conditioned by the GC dialog and when doing a GDS assume it
works the same way and end up dropping all of your tables (that
happened to me the other day). Also, the Uncheck All Tables toggle
doesn't work right.
OK, a dozen is a good number for now. I've asked the others to pass
on any other things if they think of it, but I wanted to try to
kickstart a discussion about the future of CM.
Thanks!
mrg
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