Oracle APEX: The world's best AppDev platform With over 400,000 developers, Oracle APEX is the industry leading enterprise low-code application development platform. But where did Oracle APEX come from? and what about it makes it resonate with so many developers? Listen to the full story directly from the creator of APEX and hear the origin story of Oracle APEX, the mission that drives it, and what to look forward to next.

1. Oracle APEX
The world's best AppDev platform

2. Mike Hichwa
SVP, Software Development
Oracle
@mikehichwa1
‣ Oracle Database AppDev Focus Area
‣ Original Developer of Oracle APEX
‣ Develops Applications Daily
‣ SQL Savvy
‣ Based in Reston, Virginia, USA

3. Abstract
Oracle APEX: The world's best AppDev platform
With over 400,000 developers, Oracle APEX is the industry leading
enterprise low-code application development platform. But where
did Oracle APEX come from? and what about it makes it resonate
with so many developers? Listen to the full story directly from the
creator of APEX and hear the origin story of Oracle APEX, the
mission that drives it, and what to look forward to next.

4. 4
Safe Harbor
The following is intended to outline Oracle’s general product direction. It is
intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any
contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality,
and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.
The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality
described for Oracle’s products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle.

5. 1 Inception
2 SQL
3
4
Architecture
Low Code
5
Components6
Today and Tomorrow
7 APEX Challenge
8
Community Success

6. 1
Inception

7. Oracle Forms
• #1 requirement was developer productivity
• Metadata stored in the database
• Portable across multiple operating systems
• Key unique feature was tight integration with
the Oracle Database
Source: Oracle Forms Stronger than time 2019_01_DOAG_RedStack_oracleforms_is_stronger_than_time.pdf Frank Hoffmann, Cologne Data GmbH
Since 1979 and going strong

8. Timeline
1989: SQL*Forms 3.0 w/ triggers
1994: Mosaic 1.0
1995: Netscape 1.1
1995: WebDB coding started
1996: Java JDK 1.0
1998: google.com goes live
1999: “APEX” Coding started
2002: Firefox Browser
2002: “APEX” launched as “Marvel”
2003: Safari Browser
2004: “APEX” released as “HTMLDB”
2008: Chrome Browser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_web_browsers

9. APEX Inception
• Created August 4th, 1999
• Successor to WebDB
• Designed to build real apps
• Use case #1 was “flows”
• SQL*Forms for the Web
• Priority #1 was “fast”
• Written in itself

10. APEX US Patents Issued September, 1999
Method and apparatus for dynamical
rendering components at runtime
Method and apparatus for using
metadata to dynamically generate a
display page to solicit input from a user

11. APEX First Developers & First Project (Web Calendar)
Mike Hichwa Joel Kallman Tom Kyte
Web Application
“Flows Engine”
App Data Model &
Calendar
Session State
Binding & Mid Tier
Web Calendar deployed enterprise wide to over 25K users in 3 months, with
superior performance, functionality, and user experience. Released on time in
1999. Application development done using SQL INSERT statements.

13. APEX Releases

14. 2
SQL

15. SQL Language
SELECT ENAME
FROM EMP
WHERE EMPNO = 7839

16. Technology Changes over time, Except SQL
1979 1989 1999 2009 2019
Phones
SQL

17. Change and churn is a given; Except SQL
Chance your phone looks like this in 2029:
0%
Chance your SQL looks like this in 2029:
100%

18. APEX is written in Popular Programming Technologies
2019 Stackoverflow Developer Survey Results2019 Oracle APEX Code Lines

19. Develop APEX apps declaratively + SQL
JavaScriptCSS/HTMLSQL & PL/SQL
APEX meta-data driven
components (common)
+
SQL (app specific)
+
Minimal PL/SQL snippets,
Plugins, CSS & JavaScript
Let APEX development
team & partners manage
the millions of lines of
infrastructure code
common to most
applications

20. 3
Architecture

21. Oracle APEX Architecture
Static Files and “Front End” Application Artifacts
HTTPS JDBC

22. Oracle APEX Architecture
APEX engine
Database
Data
• Zero Latency Data Access
• No network to traverse
• Run queries with sub millisecond cost
• Meta Data Driven
• Not a code generator - Deployment is meta data
• Declarative; Abstracted from Implementation
• No need to regenerate apps on upgrade
• Database Encapsulated
• Backing up the database backs up your apps
• Inherits features of the Oracle database
• Autonomous, RAC, Data Guard, JSON,
Analytics, MVRC, ACID transactions, Row
Locking, Flashback, In Memory, Multitenant,
Database Vault…

23. Oracle APEX: Zero Latency Data Access
Q: How long does it take to
query a database table
from PL/SQL?
A: About 0.00007 seconds

24. Oracle APEX: Zero Latency Data Access
Accessing data in .00007
seconds is 100X faster
than .007

25. RAD Stack: REST (ORDS) - APEX - Database
Components
• Oracle REST Data Services ORDS
• Oracle APEX
• Oracle Database
Availability
• Free Downloads (XE, ORDS, APEX)
• With Oracle EE, SE2, Exadata, ODA…
• Free on apex.oracle.com

26. RAD Stack Runs Everywhere
Laptop Generic VM Exadata Clouds

27. APEX Architecture
Why is APEX implemented in the
database tier?Q

28. APEX Architecture
Why is APEX implemented in the
database tier?Q
Because that is where the data is
Faster data access (1/10000 of a second fast)
Easy data access via SQL
Easy to manage, monitor, upgrade; use Database tooling
A

29. APEX Architecture
But what if all data is not local?
Q

30. APEX Architecture
But what if all data is not local?
Q
http://database.us.oracle.com/pls/htmldb/apex_util.get_blob_file?
a=301&s=110470766738847&p=329&d=167019328939228951&i
=167014608830228849&p_pk1=14266479929608126090573335
9954005992055&p_pk2=&p_ck=ICOMzlgaqkISbPBf1gmuOIIBY1
eLeIAloPWA_sNqxci7_TE8cqR6EuC9QYgNfINRlvYItci8ukkppZgU
AOlkIQ&p_content_disposition=attachmentA
Remote
Data
Sources

31. APEX Architecture
What is the REST performance
cost vs local?Q
A
For an Interactive report:
50/1,600 Rows - Table: 0.073, REST 0.427, Cached REST 0.106
Filtered 4 Rows - Table: 0.044, REST 0.256, No cache for filtered
Database page render time averaged over multiple runs.

32. 4
Low Code

33. Forrester Definition of Low Code
Low code platforms enable rapid delivery of
business applications with a minimum of hand-
coding and less upfront investment in setup,
training, and deployment.
Forrester Wave 2016

34. Steve Jobs 1997
The goal is to eliminate 80% of the
code developers have to write for their
app, because it is in common with
every other app, and lets developers
focus on just the 20% of the code that
is unique and value add to their app

35. Low Code vs High Control
JavaScriptAPEX
Oracle APEX is 10x more productive than hand-coding
Low Code High Control

36. Oracle APEX Use Cases
• Replacing spreadsheets
• Filling the gaps in corporate systems (SaaS Extentions)
• Modernization of legacy systems (Oracle Forms)
• Departmental tactical apps
• Large mission-critical complex apps for thousands of users

37. Typical Criticisms of Low Code Frameworks
• Low code systems don’t scale
• You can’t build real applications
• Don’t work for enterprise use cases
• Can’t find developers

38. Ask them how APEX scales for real enterprise apps?
Dimity Gielis
APEX R&D
Peter Raganitsch
FOEX
Roel Hartman
APEX Consulting
Dietmar Aust
Opal Consulting
Aljaž Mali
APEX Consultant
Daniel Hochleitner
it consulting & development
Richard Martens
Smart4solutions
Alex Nuijten
allAPEX
Lino Schildenfeld
SkillBuilders
Menno Hooogendijk
APEX Consultant

39. Can’t Find Developers? Try…
• Contract highly talented APEX partners (meet them here today)
• Use https://apex.world, LinkedIn, Indeed…
• Bad news is that developers are hard to find in general
• Good news is APEX apps require fewer developers

40. 5
Community Success

41. 6
Components

42. Oracle APEX - SQL Workshop
WSRESTful Web
Services
SWSQL
Workshop
• Database Object Browser
• SQL Commands and Scripts
• Data Loader (Drag and Drop)
• Data Dictionary Reports
• RESTful Web Services
• Quick SQL (Data Model Generation)
• RESTful Web Services Workshop

43. Oracle APEX - Application Builder
UTUniversal
Theme
PDPage
Designer
DADynamic
Actions
SCShared
Components
AFApplication
Features
SOSupporting
Objects
• Application Features
• Page Designer
• Universal Theme (templates)
• Dynamic Actions
• Shared Components / Controls
• Supporting Objects

44. Oracle APEX - Data Components
IRInteractive
Reports
IGInteractive
Grids
CRClassic
Reports
CL
Calendars
• Reports and Grids
• Single Field Search, Column Filtering, Column Sorting
• Pivot, Grouping, Charting, Aggregates…
• Updatable Reports (grids)
• Selective Column Display, Scrolling Headers
• Saved reports with email notifications
• Classic Reports
• Template based Layouts (cards, tabular, block)
• Calendar data
• ICAL sync
• Charting
• Declarative JET charts
• Form Controls
JCJET
Charts
FCForm
Controls

45. Oracle APEX Integrated Development Environment
UTUniversal
Theme
PDPage
Designer
IRInteractive
Reports
IGInteractive
Grids
CRClassic
Reports
DADynamic
Actions
PAProductivity
Apps
JCJET
Charts
CL
Calendars
WSRESTful Web
Services
SCShared
Components
AFApplication
Features
SWSQL
Workshop
FCForm
Controls
SOSupporting
Objects

46. 7
APEX Challenge

47. APEX Challenge
Collaborate with at least one other developer and build a fully
functional system with some basic common requirements. All
combined contributions must not exceed one hour.
#orclapex_challenge
Demonstrate Productivity, Elegance, Lasting Value, Performance

48. APEX Challenge - Requirements
Build an application that includes charts, reports and data entry

49. APEX Challenge Requirements
Include business rules and data validations

50. APEX Challenge Requirements
Include an email enabled workflow

51. APEX Challenge Requirements
Support multiple user roles

52. APEX Challenge Requirements
Integrate with an external API

53. APEX Challenge Requirements
Application Monitoring and Custom Logo
Code syntax validation and Security validation

54. APEX Challenge Requirements
Develop app in a web browser with at least two developers and
deploy to a second environment, test on desktop and mobile.

55. APEX Challenge Requirements
Build an application
that includes charts,
reports and data entry
Include business rules
and data validations
Include an email
enabled workflow
Support multiple user
roles
Integrate with an
external API
Application Monitoring
and Custom Logo
Code syntax validation
and security validation
Develop app in a web
browser with at least
two developers and
deploy to a second
environment, test on
desktop and mobile

56. APEX Challenge Example
If this application can be built in an hour, imagine what you can build in a
day or a week or even a month.
Access Control
Dashboard
Email Approvals
Data Entry Forms
Mobile & Reporting
Navigation and Administration
Custom Background and Logo

57. APEX Challenge Example
See Shakeeb’s and Mike’s 28 minute #orclapex_challenge video

58. 8
Today and Tomorrow

59. Oracle XE 18c – Free fully loaded Database

60. APEX 19.1 - Released March 2019
• Quick and Easy Data Loading
• REST Enabled Forms
• New Charts
• Single-click REST API creation of
Database Objects (including
procedures)
• Declarative Options for Interactive Grids
• Application Development Environment
“Dark Mode”

61. APEX on Oracle Database Cloud, March 2019
• Fully Supported Terraform script
• Install / Upgrade APEX & ORDS
• Process published in white paper

62. APEX / EBS Whitepaper, Published April 2019
• Simplified setup process
• Certified with APEX 18.2, ORDS
18.2, EBS 12.2
• Announced at Collaborate19

63. Online TP & Mixed Workloads
• Transactions, Batch, Reporting, IoT
• Application Dev, Machine Learning
AUTONOMOUS
TRANSACTION PROCESSING
ORACLE AUTONOMOUS DATABASE
APEX coming to Autonomous Database
All Analytic Workloads
• Data Warehouse, Data Mart
• Data Lake, Machine Learning
AUTONOMOUS
DATA WAREHOUSE

64. APEX 19.2 - Q4 CY2019
• Enhanced Popup LOV (super-LOV)
• New “next-gen” Productivity Apps (19.2 or 20.1)
• Native support for more authentication providers
• Tighter integration with AOP
• Improved tracking and reporting of developer changes
• Improved Universal Theme style “Vita Dark” (end-user-dark mode)
• Filter Reports
APEX releases are time bound so features not ready in one release slip to the next

65. APEX Reporting Today
Classic Reports Interactive Reports & Grids

70. Filter Reports Key Features
• Create in seconds with automatic filter discovery
• Select-many (checkbox) with counts
• Automatic synchronization of display cards or report
• Date and Numeric Ranges - auto computed or manual
• “Show more” control - when lists get too long
• Conditional display; don’t show cities until a country is selected
• Fully responsive
• Search box
• Standard data sources, SQL, Table/View, REST

71. APEX 20.1+
• More JET visualizations driven by users of our ADW
• SQL developer web (ORDS) worksheet integration into APEX SW
• Continued refinement of major components including FR, IR, IG…
• Additional native form controls
• More robust change management and app life cycle support
• Improved email capabilities; automated anomaly alerts
• Overall, allow your application to notify developers / administrators proactively

72. Oracle APEX Mission
Deliver the most modern and complete
integrated development platform with the
most robust components, with the fastest
performance, secured by default, and
continuously innovated.
Always free, fast, fresh, secure, 2x releases per year, run everywhere

73. Oracle APEX
The world's best AppDev platform