Not Your Daddy’s Code Generator
We at Skyway have a passionate goal to create a product that resolves all problems associated with code generators today and earlier generation code generators. We’re not afraid to bring these concerns out on the table, because we want all developers to realize the benefits that Skyway can bring to accelerating Spring development. So, we pride ourselves in removing the roadblocks associated with code generation.
To help discuss code generation issues and how Skyway resolves these issues, this blog focuses on the following code generation statements. These statements comprise a summarized view of our own experience with other code generators as well as what we have heard in talking with folks about Skyway. Don’t get me wrong, these statements do accurately describe some, if not most, code generators. Unfortunately, these code generators have influenced a mindset encompassing all generation frameworks. Hence the reason for this blog; an answer to the code generation drawbacks with a product conceived, designed and built by developers.
In six general statements, here are the drawbacks with code generators:
Code Generators …
- … lock me down!
- … contain runtime proprietary components!
- … generate unreadable bad code!
- … don’t allow me to customize what’s generated!
- … have an added learning curve!
The following table presents a concise view of each perceived drawback, Skyway’s answer to these drawbacks and proof where you can see it for yourself.
| Drawback | Skyway Solution | Proof |
| lock me down! | The generated Eclipse Dynamic Web project is completely decoupled from the Skyway DSL project. A developer can completely ignore or throw away the Skyway visual DSL and continue to hand code the project if so desired. There are also various development approaches to blend hand coding and modeling. |
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| contain runtime proprietary components! | Skyway has no proprietary runtime components. The deployed application is a standard Spring enabled Eclipse Dynamic Web Project. The application you build and deploy is 100% owned by you. |
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| generate unreadable bad code! | Springsource has crawled through Skyway’s generated code and configuration files and certified what is generated. Skyway also uses various Spring Recipes, and has leveraged our strategic partnerships and community feedback to continually improve the code that is generated. |
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| don’t allow me to customize what’s generated! | Skyway’s core generation framework is open source and built on the Eclipse plug-in framework providing many extensibility options. Skyway’s newest Project Templates feature also makes it very easy for developers to modify the templates used in code generation. |
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| have an added learning curve! | Skyway’s visual Spring DSL sticks to Spring concepts familiar with Spring developers. The visual DSL has also helped new developers to Spring accelerate their learning while not sacrificing project timelines. |
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If you are interested in learning more about Skyway, please take a look at our features or getting started page.
If you see something that is not listed, please comment on this blog or post a forum thread or JIRA. Your feedback is more valuable than you think.
If after reading this blog, you still are not convinced, how about a live demo or conversation? Email sales@skywaysoftware.com
Or if you still have beef with Skyway’s Generation? Why not share it to improve Skyway?
