Integration of GIS into Oracle applications can take many forms. No matter the form the issues are generally the same. Maintaining feature to attribute data integrity, adding spatial query and display capabilities in Oracle forms, reports, and perhaps even straight SQL queries. Talk to a few people about developing GIS-enabled Oracle applications and the chances are good if they understand the least of what you are talking about they will suggest SDE before you do. Can SDE play a role in the integration of GIS in an Oracle application? Should it? "The role of SDE in Oracle Applications" explores making the SDE connection in Oracle at the client and the server levels and explains what SDE brings to the Oracle application developer's table.