The Device Driver Problem

DTP is facing a particular challenge, which I'll call the "device driver problem." Essentially, the problem is this: DTP provides a set of extensible, vendor-neutral frameworks for using data sources (defining driver templates, making connections, getting data and so on). By the very nature of frameworks, they act as enablers rather than tools for end user tasks. But, what happens if we don't have an extension to the frameworks for your particular case?

Let's take a specific example: you use (or are required to use) database O, and are looking for some tools in Eclipse to help in application development. DTP seems like the logical place, and you eagerly download it. But, wait: It doesn't work with database O! What a disappointment! The fact that the DTP frameworks work fine with another database doesn't help you here. Basically, DTP does not work as far as you are concerned. This is the same as when you install an operating system, only to find out that it doesn't have a device driver for your printer, modem, or other vital hardware.

And you are right. Yet the problem is more complicated: Although we want DTP to be used by the widest possible community (both extenders and end users), DTP has neither the staffing level nor experience to create and support all of the data sources that would be required by this wide community. So, the situation is frustrating from both sides: you want DTP to work completely with your data source, and we want to make that happen.

One possible solution is simply to say something like this: Look, this is open source software -- extend it yourself and make it available to others! That could work, but has a number of drawbacks: (1) If you are a new user of DTP, how do you easily find the required extensions for your data source, (2) How do you know particular extensions for data sources work in certain DTP versions, (3) If you are an extender, how can you work closely with the DTP team, aside from relying only on newsgroups and mailing lists?

We at DTP hear this concern and want to address it. But we need to do this in partnership with the community -- we simply don't have the staff and expertise to cover all necessary data sources. And hence, we have proposed the Enablement project as a new subproject of DTP.

Take a look at the Enablement proposal: let us know what you think. And, more importantly, come and get involved to make DTP everything that it should be. I am convinced that together we can make DTP a truly compelling part of the Eclipse ecosystem.