Email from PL/SQL with Java - UTL_SMTP - UTL_TCP

I need to implement email from PL/SQL triggers/procedures for an internet application and I'm studying the different ways to skin this cat...

I'm looking at the UTL_SMTP Oracle supplied package which is specifically for emailing from PL/SQL. (Oracle 8.1.6+ only) It also requires the UTL_TCP package which requires $ORACLE_HOME/plsql/jlib/plsql.jar which means it requires the Java Virtual Machine on the Oracle Server.
(From thin client to fat server? :-()

I understand that: it takes over an hour to run the initjvm.sql install script; that Oracle recommends about 50MB for java_pool_size; and that 4000+ objects will be created...

(select count(*) from dba_objects where object_type like 'JAVA%').

So now I'm wondering about the overhead of the JVM and whether it's worth it to go down this path just for email functionality.

QUESTIONS:
1) Can anyone share their experience with installing the JVM and give feedback regarding the overhead.

2) Has anyone used UTL_SMTP to email from PL/SQL?

3) Are there any other approaches to email from PL/SQL that you would recommend?

4) Should I learn Java?

TIA! TIA! TIA! TIA! Hemorrhaging on the bleeding edge, Received on Tue Aug 01 2000 - 12:16:47 CDT