Oracle APEX Review

Overview

Oracle APEX = Oracle Application Express

Been around since 2004 under various names

Browser Based development and deployment

Think of it as a replacement for MS Access, but on the web and multi-user with an Oracle backend.

RAD tool for the Oracle Database; think Forms over data

Declaratively build web 2.0 applications

Leverage SQL and PL/SQL skills.

Multi-tenant Hosting

Departmental Solutions is focus

The Oracle store is built with APEX

Lots of options for Authentication or even custom

Built-in support to prevent URL tampering

20 canned themes or can create your own, including one for starting mobile.

Wizards to create forms including master detail, etc, but has basic layout, functionality, etc.

Create web services with wizard. A web service can be created from a region also.

Can add regions to a page and add most anything to the region including forms, etc.

Cost

Fully supported by Oracle

Free with Oracle Database (include Oracle XE)

Skill Set Required

PL/SQL

SQL

Skill Set Required for Customization

HTML

JavaScript

CSS

Advantages

Robust migration path for Oracle Forms application to APEX.

Very easy to generate data-driven CRUD data entry style applications that include simple reporting.

Migrating MS Access, or Excel files to a multi-user web environment

Similar to SharePoint lists such that you can create tables, and UI based on an Excel spreadsheet.

Free with Oracle database license

RAD or demo or POC

Built-in themes

Customization done using standards such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Disadvantages

Debugging can be painful. No breakpoints,

Business Logic written in PL/SQL. No layers such as a business layer and data access layer. SQL or stored procedures are referenced directly.

Web based development environment  feels a bit clumsy and slow.

Tightly bound to PL/SQL and Oracle.

You must work within the paradigm that is defined by APEX. If the application doesn't fit the paradigm the effort drastically increases. For instance javascript and html/css become the way of working.  This is a much different skillset. Alternatively, plug-ins can be created to extend APEX.

Migration path from MS Access to APEX is limited and works on with simple

The time you save in development time can be quickly lost in debugging, support, and customization.

No version control 

Architecture

• Web Browser
• Apache with mod_plsql/EPG web listener
• Application Express
• Meta Data

KEY FEATURES according to a Oracle APEX Specialist

FRAMEWORK

The APEX framework uses SQL and PL/SQL on the back-end, and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the user interface. SQL and PL/SQL are solid and proven languages and they allow APEX developers to leverage the features of the Oracle database. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are industry standard components for building web applications.

SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE AUTHENTICATION SCHEMES

APEX supports various authentication schemes such as LDAP, database, Single Sign on, Oracle Access Manager, custom, etc.  This makes it convenient to integrate with any existing applications and authentication systems.

DECLARATIVE MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

APEX is bundled with the popular jQuery mobile libraries and provides declarative support for building mobile applications. A special mobile theme provides APEX mobile applications with typical mobile features such as page transitions and gestures including swipe, pinch, and tap. Custom mobile themes can easily be created with the jQuery mobile theme roller.

RESPONSIVE DESIGN FOR OPTIMAL VIEWING ON DESKTOP, TABLET AND SMARTPHONES

APEX applications can be rendered on desktops, tablets, and smartphones by choosing a theme based on a responsive design. APEX includes a set of modern themes that are based on CSS3 and HTML5, and supports HTML5 charts, and HTML5 item types such as sliders and toggles.

PACKAGED APPLICATIONS – A FULL DEVELOPMENT SUITE

APEX is bundled with a suite of business productivity applications that can be freely used to assist with the management and control of projects. The suite contains applications for bug tracking, issue logs, checklist management, meeting minutes, group calendar, decision management, document management, and project management.

RESTFUL WEB SERVICES

APEX has built-in support for RESTful web services and allows applications to access data and services over the internet or intranet using standard web APIs. Database web services that implement SQL or PL/SQL can also be created. RESTful web services in APEX requires the APEX Listener, a J2EE based alternative for the Oracle HTTP server and mod_plsql.

DATABASE INTEGRATION

APEX is a component of the Oracle database and applications build with APEX can utilize or benefit from any feature of the database such as advanced security, RAC, Spatial, Analytics, Multimedia, XML DB, Job Scheduler, utility packages, etc.  APEX uses SQL and PLSQL to interact with the Oracle host database.

GLOBALIZATION SUPPORT

Applications build in APEX can run concurrently in different languages. Applications are developed in a primary language and can be mapped to a supported target language. Strings in the primary application are exported to a XML Localization Interchange File (XLIFF) where they are translated and imported and automatically used by the translated application.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Team development is a built-in feature that allows a group of developers, working on a single application, manage new features, to dos, bugs, and milestones. Users of an application can provide instant feedback which can then be classified as feature, to do, or bug.

EXTENSIBLE

The APEX development framework supports plugins that allow developers to extend the functionality of their applications with reusable custom or third-party extensions. APEX applications can also be extended with custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.

OTHER FEATURES

APEX is also stacked with other utilities and features that greatly improve developer productivity throughout the life of a project.

Version Control Support – Applications can be automatically exported into SQL script files where they can be included in a version control system. APEX provides an application exporter utility as well as an application splitter utility for splitting application into individual page scripts.

Error Handling – Developers can create a single error handling function that handles exception consistently across all pages in an application.

Oracle Forms Migration Tool – If Java/ADF is not for you, APEX is a viable option for converting Oracle Forms applications. APEX includes a forms migration tool to assist with the migration of Oracle Forms applications.

Accessibility – APEX applications have automatic built-in accessibility support. Applications can be rendered in high contrast mode or screen reader mode in order to meet accessibility requirements.       

Utility Reports – APEX has a comprehensive list of reports that provide real-time information on applications. Some of the more useful reports are:

• Change History – List of changes made by developers
• Advisor – Quality control review of an application
• Database Object Dependencies – List of database objects used by an application
• Debug Messages – List of debug messages generated by an application
• Recently Updated Pages – List of pages that were recently updated

Features

Reports

Forms

Charts

Calendar

Templates

Navigation

Validations

Processes

Computations

Branches

Web Services

Email Services

Translation Services

Conditional Processing

Authentication

Authorization

Session State Management

Logging & Monitoring

Interactive Reports

Integrating with Other Tools / Services

SQL

PL/SQL

RAC

Spatial

OLAP

Flashback

Web Services

Text

Multimedia

Analytic Functions

Globalization

XML DB

eBusiness Suite

Migration to APEX

Direct Excel Conversion

MS Access Conversion Support

Oracle Forms Conversion Support

Security

Popular authentication supported as well as custom

Can hide columns based on user access level

Screenshots of the development environment

Built-in User Management

List of applications in the workspace

List of all pages in an application

Design a page

Options for creating a new application

Add a page

Create a Form

Sample User Interface

of the application created from a Spreadsheet

This is an interactive report. We can add charts, group by, add aggregate columns, filter, highlight, export to CSV, re-order columns, hide columns, save report, etc.

Conclusion

Oracle APEX may be a good choice depending on your needs. Here are some key criteria for this to be a good choice:

• Oracle database is your database of choice
• You know SQL and even better you know PL/SQL
• Your application is essentially a CRUD or forms over data applications or data-centric application
• You want to do RAD
• You don't want to write lots of code
• For customization you will need JavaScript and HTML/CSS knowledge
• For writing Business logic and customizing the application you will need PL/SQL knowledge
• To get the largest savings in time you will want to use the predefined forms and wizards, but this is not required.

It also means you are willing to give up some of the more common development practices

• Having separate tiers for business logic and data access. Instead you must want your business logic to be in the database in packages.
• IDE that runs on your pc
• Robust debugger
• Unit tests
• Version control (Yes you can export files and them to version control, but it isn't quite the same thing in my opinion)
• If you want to do OOP or MVC this is
• Drag n drop files from your desktop into the IDE
• Less control over files in your project

If the above criteria is okay with you then Oracle APEX is worth looking at. You get a lot of functionality. Similar to what you would get with SharePoint, MS Access, or meta-data tools, but with different strengths and weaknesses as noted above.

References:

Introduction to Oracle Application Express (APEX) Video

Oracle APEX - A Feature-Rich Development Platform you should be using