What do you most like about Obsydian?

When you enrolled in Club Lava, you were asked if what do you most like about Obsydian?
Here is a collection of uncensored responses from your fellow Club Lava members.
Read on and enjoy the good, the bad and the amusing!

• With Obsydian we can abstract from the developing problem and attack the problem itself.
• Additionaly it makes our people work as a team, and provides a grow path for the future. We are reaching the 8 month stage of development and the new stage promised of reusability and a little understanding of the power of Obsydian.
• All of the power of Object orientation and it's adaptability.
• Migration capabilities from SYNON2E
• CASE-approach, many generators, inheritance, one code - many platforms
• Abstraction and re-use without having to give up low level control (when it's needed).
• Action diagram - no other tool comes near it!
• The ability to provide the user with functional windows applications without the tedious aspects of language programming.
• It's the best development tool on the "OO-client server-AS400" market. The model driven, object-oriented approach!
• Inheritance features and integrated change management.
• If you do not like how the class libraries work, you can either inherit from them and modify them in the edit points, or create your own from scratch. This gives a great deal of long term flexibility.
• Client/Server technology aimed at several different platforms. Migration of existing Synon/2E data model.
• Ease of use, GUI, multiple platforms, class structures
• Power and flexibility
• The power for developing. In a few minutes you have a great working functionality.
• Rapid development, ability to generate for different platforms and the full life cycle coverage.
• Consistency in application
• Model based approach, the people behind the product
• Everything!
• As a consultant, we must build applications that will run on a variety of platforms. We must be able to write the application once, and deploy the application the platform that our customers are using. The old days where a customer will buy your application, and buy whatever computer they will need to run that application are gone. I feel that Obsydian is the best tool on the market to deliver the applications we must build. It is very robust, and really does offer capabilities second to none.
• Action Diagramming vs. "coding".
• Still investigating
• It's high level modeling capabilities that takes you away from low level coding.
• The all in one approach for the system life cycle. e.g. OO, multi-platform etc.
• I just like working with the product. Although I have been using it from the very beginning, there are still discoveries (some pleasant, some annoying) to be made. The real strength is in the Class Libraries and the flexibility, and also the ability to generate for different platforms. And as always, the things most liked are yet to be announced...
• Ability to run against AS/400 and/or an ODBC database at the same time.
• The Application Flexibility afforded to the developer.
• Development for NT platform
• The inheritance provided by object orientation eliminates most of the "grunt-work" of traditional programming and puts the focus on design.
• ... everything improves step by step; meanwhile you reached that level of perfection and quality a customer needs for developing his business critical applications. Please carry on.
• Model based; especially the triples!; model management features; flexible generators & multiple targets.
• I like : Object modeling & Base class.
• Reuseablity
• Its not Synon/Open!!! Ask Jane George-she knows what I mean.
• The model based approach, and the ability to easily reuse objects.
• Repository basis, with modelling at the heart. Object-oriented approach. Scalability. Multi-platform deployment.
• Its features: Multiplatform application. Client/Server facilities.Workgroup development environment. Model based. Inheritance (multi-level).
• The inheritance mechanism and the generators.
• The object oriented design.
• Object orientation and strong templating capabilities.
• The GPF's ;-)
• Ease of use. Ease of maintenance. The learning curve is very good. I was able to start writing code only a couple weeksafter attending the basic class. I like the inheritance features as well.
• The object-based method of developing, and the easily way to generate aplications in C++ and RPG.
• 1) Data modelling. 2) Multi platform generation
• It's ease of generation for both a windows and AS/400 environments
• The easy way to build projects and manage them
• Power and flexibility
• Class library inheritance and the fact that i can deploy apps to various platforms from a single model
• The tricky thing called Licensekey.
• Perhaps a Comic Strip, a light hearted look at Obsydian, perhaps a semi-critical view.
• Different platforms development from one model.the development-method, the Obsydian-Idea and
• Philosophy is really great!
• Cross platform ability from one development environment
• It is such a COMPLETE product, and, if understood and used correctly, it's limits are the developer's imagination. Also, as processing power increases, I see it becoming a tool which will enable a business to enter a business rule, and have it immediately executed in the application, without the need to generate any code etc.
• Its simplicity!
• Rapid development and prototyping, and code generation at the PC level taking the burden off the AS/400. We are also an AS/SET shop and much of your time can be spent in a generation queue.
• Inheritance and reuse Multi-platform
• The ease of fast application development. Reuse of common business rules.
• Improved sytems development productivity. Model based development-analysis to implementation. Brings together AS/400 & PC well. Synon's commitment to keep Obsydian in sync with new technology. Run time flexibility for different operating systems.
• 1. Object oriented features 2. Multi-platform generation from the same repository 3. Full life-cycle integration
• Inheritance!
• Flexibility of the product and speed of application development.
• It is a complete tool. Data modeling, GUI design, and action diagramming
• High level of possible abstractions. Inheritance mechanism. Its power of reusability at any level.Platform independence, Object engineering methodology
• Ability to develop Windows based systems. inheritance of objects is helpful, although its been more difficult than anticipated working with multiple group models.
• Object-orientation (inheritance, especially) - GUI interface (for the most part)
• Consistency of the product, flexibility
• Object well oriented paradigm
• Reuse
• Its future possibilities. We have been living with an inferior product for a while now. In the same token, almost each release has resulted in being a step closer to the product that can challenge the Powerbuilders.
• Code reuse. (I'm just learning the Development Environment)
• The user interface.
• Easy to use (sometimes)
• Ability to develop model based applications and design abstract classes quickly and effectively.
• The inheritance from previously defined objects - which makes them reusable.
• Obviously- the windows interface is an improvement.
• A vehicle for OO Programming on Midrange, Mainframe seats.
• GUI front-end needed by Business future requirements
• PIE Graph and BAR Chart Presentations
• Modern application development without being close bound to
• one target environment. Good perspective to adapt new or
• future trends (32 Bit Back Office, Java) in my applications.
• The power of Inheritance
• The quickness of turn around.
• Ability to develop for more than one deployment environment with the same tool.
• Can do almost everything with a high level of abstraction.
• OOT ! Multiplatform!
• The ease of setting up a system for any generation environment.
• Object orientation
• I feel it is step up from SYNON/2E product. Platform independent software, will be able to run the application on more than one system. It will help companies to build applications much faster than before.
• Integrated modeling of the data base linked directly to generated code.
• Ability to declare many facts about a system which normally (in other tools) required procedural logic to support.
• The multiple inheritance features, the data modeling capabilities, and the ability to deploy on multiple platforms.
• Data model based multi-platform development
• You define, it generates!
• It's interface and its structured way of develloping Client Server applications. The short time I needed to learn the basics of the tool (I' ve 11 years of Synon and 13 years of RPG experience)
• Model based development and Object Engineering.
• It's completeness. The fact that you can do everything from producing your initial design documents through to implementing a complete solution within the one development environment. Also, being a Synon/2E developer for many years I still believe that the model based approach is the only way to produce such high quality business solutions.
• I like that Obsydian is developed by realy AS/400 professionals.
• The news about Obsydian, The members list, Tips and techniques
• Inheritance from class library
• Multi-platform development environment
• New Class and funtions abaut calculate Financial
• developed by a futuristic company that listens to its customers
• Concepts
• Platform independence!! I can now create applications for Oracle, Watcom, and under multiple operating systems, as well as my native (and beloved) AS400.
• The power of inheritance.
• Removal of need to do routine taks. More time to spend onthe design.
• Team Based approach
• Remarkably powerful tool.
• Reusability of objects, code generation, business modeling
• Inheritance, Variant based development & generation...
• The development environment. Development seems quicker,
• easier and more satisfying than in S2/E.
• Mind you, I'm still very much at level 1.
• Fast, as current 2E guy this product looks like it has a big future.
• Blindingly fast development, very well organized models, interoperability with other software, multiple platforms and languages, just to name a few things. Not to mention the excellent support we have received from everyone at Synon. Obsydian is the only tool that will enable us to meet our ludicrously close target.
• Similarity to Synon, Data model based
• Similiar Design & Terms as Synon with latest technology.
• Learning a new client server type of tool
• Fun to work with. I dont have to know much of that C++ stuff.
• Good source for answers to questions.
• Its solid theoretical foundation. Its simplicity. Its possibilities!
• Having done several object-oriented projects using C++ as development language, I really appreciate the C++ generation in Obsydian
• The GUI part!! Works great for the Windows environment. The learning curve is quite fast.
• Inheritance
• MICROSOFT COMPATIBILITY
• The Development speed increase in respect to conventional development techniques
• Right now, the meta operations, and reuseability
• Generators, Versions, National lenguages, class libraries
• base class libraries.
• I provides a goood solution in a fairly quick time scale
• love it to death since KT beta (late 94)
• Obsydian gives you the ability to create robust applications very quickly. This is my first time working with this type of tool. Although we have gotten burnt with the inheritance at times, I like the idea of being able to inherit from reusable objects.
• Facility of developing and the high level of reuse of he developed functions.
• Model based & generates to 'any' platform
• Inheritance
• After 10 years of using Synon/2 on the AS/400, I appreciate being able to develop an application on a laptop PC!
• The power of Inheritance.
• It's OO properties, primarily inheritance which enables the development of abstract objects. I also value using a tool that allows me to focus on modeling the business rather than being caught up in the details of the deployment technology.
• Data-modelling toolset.
• Future integration with other Toolsets & opening of repository
• The power of inheritance and re-usability. The windows-based environment.
• reports avalibility
• Inheritance, re-use
• Much easier than coding by hand. Ability to create GUI's - Lots of power to do many different things!
• Powerful
• The details that are taken away from the programmers in regards to all the different communication issues involved with Client Server development, and the productivity gains that Obsydian provides.
• Flexibility
• Data driven design and the integration of the triples within the product and the various editors.
• Speed of development
• (1)Ease of use, (2) ability to implement one application design in many languagues (RPG, C++, Java, etc.) and architectures.
• Ease of developing an application and time saving. Also the object orientation it offers.
• client/server app. generator for AS/400
• Model based development.
• The speed at which an application can be written as opposed to other means of rapid application development. The ability to concentrate on the business rules and be insulated from the complexities of low level coding.
• First view indicates a good RAD tool for C++ development.
• The ability to build abstract objects using meta-code.
• OO CASE.
• The inheritance of propeties provides for rapid redevelopment
• of many "standard" functions and entities.
• Not having to know about C++, SQL, RPG, etc...
• Cross platform, hardware independent development
• Inheritance, and graphical diagramming.
• Action diagram debugger.
• Migration from 2E
• OO, JAVA!!!
• Model based
• Multi platform
• Flexibility
• Speed of Development
• Object reusability.
• The fact that my maintenance cycle will be drastically reduced when the application is online via Obsydian.
• GUI interface; ability to link to VBX/OCX/DLL objects created
• from other entities or systems.
• high level design, model definition,
• Scalability
• I had not written a line of code in 11 years. Then, I started working with Obsydian and was quickly able to generate functions in C++ and RPG...and they work!
• Its inheritance power.
• What i like the most about Obsydian is the ability to check the elements of your application by using the meta functions.
• It's platform independency.
• Model based. Ease of maintenance.
• Obsydian exists
• I (coming from AS/400) have the possibility to build Windows-based apps with many of the features available within native Windows-apps. The integrated editors are genius, most of all the model-panel-action editor-designer-diagrammer.
• Version 3.0
• The way you integrate your customers in Obsydian-Product-Development (e.g. Focus groups)
• Ease of use
• Always using new knowledge.
• Model based, multiple platforms
• Ease of Change to design/database
• The modeling aspect versus having to code.
• Everything
• Industrial strength capabilities, faith in a product that has 2E heritage
• Rapid development, and client/server development on Windows NT
• Library customisation. We call this our "Make-Up".
• OLE and DDE Integration. Back Office
• Power and flexibility for developing high performance client server systems.
• The model based development. The ability to create multiple variants from one model.
• Meta Code Multi Platform generators
• Its easy interface and its extensive library classes.
• It's the coolest tool around
• Its language free modelling and OO characteristics
• The inheritance of the class objects. The work is already done, so I can spend time designing my application, not developing new code.
• The reuse/inheritance capabilities.
• A wonderfully stable platform for developing mission critical applications.
• It gave us a quick route into the client/server world
• The ability to develop an application form more than one database and/or hardware platform
• It's a way cool tool!
• The object oriented engineering
• The speed of application development. High level application development yet still the facility to use low level code (through C++ source codes)
• The ablility to inherit has been a big plus. I can create my own templates, and then inherit from those to maintain standards. Also, most of the functionality that I am interested in is already shipped with the product. This means less time that I have to spend trying to work out a new process.
• Although I/we have not had the opportunity to work with it yet, the ability to changed platforms quickly is seen as a big advantage.
• -Single source concept (same source for multiple platform)
• OO technology
• easy adaption of new and future technologies (Java)
• integrated upper case features (diagrammer)
• oo technology and the multiple platform and the flexibilty of changes vs rpg.
• Multi platform environment, lots of dragin` and droppin`
• defer till we have more experience
• Inheritance
• Anything can be solved within te tool
• Its continued use of the letter "Y"..upholding the great Synon tradition. I would really have hated it if my S2/E stuff started with a "Y", but my Obsydian stuff started with a "Z".
• Look and feel of end results
• Inheritance, Ease of programming(after understanding the concept)
• Ready for deployment across platforms.
• Its easy access.
• Data Model and Inheritance from Objects
• Inheritance extended by the use of 'replaces' triples.
• Once trained and begin using the product... the rapid development process and structured approach (regardless of variant used) to creating applications.
• The AS/400 RPC layer.
• Getting paid to use it.
• simply said - ALL ! -
• Able to develop a Windows application without knowledge of the details of Windows programming.
• it's a case tool !
• We have been a Synon/2E shop for several years. We have are impressed with the capability and power of the Meta code. We have done some of our own coding using the Meta instructions and are excited with the results. It is a true benefit to be able to develop code at an inherited level that provides feature and functionality across the entire application without the need to program that functionality everywhere it is required.
• Fast application development. I do not have to know anything
• about C++, which is very good. Some things (minor) in Obsydian
• products user interface sometimes bother me, but it is getting better after every release!
• Multi platform capability
• OO Aspects in design
• The power of "is a".
• Free shirts.
• Being able to develop in a client/server environment without prior knowledge of C++. The reuseability of objects developed is the way all programming should be. Also, the multiple generators allows our software to be very portable across hardware platforms.
• Much more powerful and robust than Delphi. Able to generate and deploy to multiple platforms. Not based on window design (as Dephi tends to be). Stresses strong database design, etc.
• Classes
• The freedom.
• I like the concept very much and I think as the product matures
• it will steadily improve in implementation.
• the nearly full life cycle support, the high abstraction level and a consequent object oriented approach
• The close relationship with Microsoft and other mainstream technologies.
• I appreciate very much the versatility that Obsydian give us. Before i developed in Synon2E and when i changed to Obsydian I just loved it. Congratulations.
• portable development
• The integration between Casetools and OO development
• Model-based approach; platform independence
• Development flexibility, look and feel of panels generated.
• Inheritance, Replacement, Level & version etc
• Its multi platform support and design concept.
• Speed after initial setup - ease of standards enforcements with customised base class layer.
• Everything
• The easy way you can build a system based on predefined entity types.
• Inherut properties from else where in the model.
• The mixture of OO and RDB
• Easy to use;
• Enhances and enforces the CORRECT project life cycle to adobt;
• Dis-associates design from implementation.
• Good all round c/s product
• Inheritance, the huge amount of possibilities to solve problems
• Repository and Model.
• User interface is easy to made. Real Client/Server-generation.
• Use of the inheritance, that really has power!
• Inheritance
• PC based, Graphical
• Multi platform deployment
• The inheritance concept
• The ability to develop on a PC and run over different platforms.
• The power to develop great applications quickly and with quality.
• Repository based technology
• Its ease of use and features available
• Code reusability; allowing to trace the usage of an object.
• It's a fast and easy product to build good C/S application against AS/400
• The easy development of moderate client-server applications.
• Resolver problemas técnicos.
• Aportar la experiencia adquirida en nuestros desarrollos
• Being able to create maintenance programs quickly. Using referenced entities and owned by entities to get validation/prompt functions
• Model concept
• We love Object class
• First off, the ability of generating cross-platform applications using one tool. Secondly, the object oriented approach of development. Third, the opportunities that open up as a result of the cross-platform capability. I used to only develop RPG programs, whereas now, I can develop Windows C++ applications, ODBC, etc.
• Don't know yet...
• The combination of Client Server technology with OO techniques.
• .The whole concept of Upper CASE and Lower CASE
• First true love after the SYNON/2E
• It is an incredibly fast development tool. It is very consistant and just plain fun to use!
• Faster development of applications, data integrity, eliminationation of redundant code.
• Obsydian has the most potential of any development took I know of!
• The scaleability and re-usability that come as standard.
• META-OPERATIONS.POSSIBILITY OF CREATION OF ABSTRACT CLASSES.CUSTOMIZE STANDARDS INFORMATION SYSTEM
• It covers the whole lifecycle of an application
• I like Obsydian because I think that it is technologically advanced. Thus, the future is safe!
• Portability, object oriented
• The possibilities provided inheritance of the Business-Classes and own objects and the problem-free connection to AS400-Databases
• Easy to work with and you get a good control of your work
• Hard to say, lot of potential, but lots of problems!
• Visual development environment, power of inheritance with a model based design repository
• The speed by which you can get things done. What is unique is the way inheritance works. That you are able to inherit from more classes at the same time is great.
• It’s a good design tool.
• Polymorphism of interface - to know an object's class and to alter the options offered immediately in the rest of the interface accordingly. Simplicity of ERD tool. Customisability of build options.
• I have an experience of 2 years with OBSYDIAN (specially in methods), and the most important element is the capacity to develop very large applications on multi platform sites.
• Its rapid application development.
• Multi-platform, multi operating system development
• It's a great product
• Platform independence
• Potential to setup systems via business rules
• It's object orientation and the fact that we have the ability to build abstract objects ourselves.
• Flexibility in all areas Model based sw developing OO and Simon Williams Object Engineering
• Ease of generation..
• Meta code and Inheritance, Model based development environment
• The fantastic inheritance concept.
• It is very user friendly and quick to program in.
• The fresh look.
• Integrated, Quick and Easily development !
• The way you can develop any project from the classes.
• AS400 Aplications
• We like to have information of Obsydian on NT Server
• Object oriented, reusable code and GUI interface
• Ease of use and multi-platform.
• The thing i like about obsydian is that i can develop windows software. with synon i was reduced to develop software only for the AS 400.
• I like the reusability of objects and the ease of changing file name or field names.
• Its inheritance
• The management of versions, languages...
• The model mangement
• High level design
• OO development environment. Gives my boss a reason to upgrade my laptop.
• The speed you can build applications
• The ability to develop for multiple platforms.
• Speed and ease of development. The fact that Obsydian functions can be interfaced to and called from other programs written in VB etc.
• I like coding at the design level. I was a 2E coder before Obsydian and became sold on the product. Not being a heavy RPG coder, I don't really care what happens behind the scene. I'm more interested in the finished result.
• Model based development.
• Its multi-platform independence, version control and the abstract application frameworks.
• The ability to reuse work and allow for standards with less work.
• It's a great application, it's easy to use...
• The ability do develop for multiple platforms; inheritance of high-level business objects.
• Ease of use, rapid development, easy maintenance, the fact that the learning curve weeds out many who don't belong in OO arena, ability to generate multiple platforms.