Oracle Fusion – FAQ

So what is Oracle Fusion?

Oracle Fusion can refer to either:

Fusion Architecture – a reference architecture or blueprint for building applications. Note that this is not a product, and can be used without paying Oracle a cent.
Fusion Middleware – Middleware infrastructure services that can be used to build applications.
Fusion Applications – Oracle’s next generation applications suite, built on top of Fusion Middleware using Fusion Architecture as blueprint.

Fusion Architecture

Oracle Fusion Architecture (OFA) is a standards-based technology reference architecture or blueprint for building applications.

Note that Fusion Architecture is not a product, and can be used without paying Oracle a cent.

In fact, many companies use it to write applications that can run on Oracle’s Fusion Middleware or that compliments Oracle’s Fusion Applications.

Oracle Fusion Architecture is based on the following core principles:

  • Model Driven: For applications, business processes and business information
  • Service & Event- enabled: For extensible, modular, flexible applications and processes
  • Information Centric: For complete and consistent, actionable, real-time intelligence
  • Grid-Ready: Must be scalable, available, secure, manageable on low-cost hardware
  • Standards-based: Must be open, pluggable in a heterogeneous environment

Fusion Middleware

Fusion Middleware is a family of middleware products covering areas like BI, Identity Management, Content Management and SOA.

Each of these areas has it’s own stack of products. Fusion Middleware was previously called Oracle Application Server.

Fusion Applications

Oracle Fusion Applications is Oracle’s next generation suite of applications that eventually replace E-Business Suite.

It will assimilate best of breed features from:

  • E-Business Suite;
  • JD Edwards;
  • PeopleSoft; and
  • Siebel.

Fusion Applications is build on top of the Oracle Fusion Middleware technology stack using Oracle’s Fusion Architecture as blueprint.

The first release of Fusion Apps is scheduled for completion in 2008. When ready, customers will not be forced to upgrade, but can decide when, if and how they choose to upgrade.

Not only will Oracle move to the next generation technology stack (SOA, BPEL, BAM, JSF, Ajax, ESB, etc), but will also bring together the best in class underpinnings, of each of the incumbent suites, like Business Structure, Security Model, Workflow Process, and Event Models.

Source: Wikipedia