Oracle Application Express Review

PROS: This tool has been around since 2002 under a different name, but I have to say that this current version is the best one yet. I like how developers who use this don't need a degree or a pile of documentation to start using it, thanks to the benefits the Oracle database provides in the back end. I find it very useful when it comes to maintaining applications that are scalable, responsive, and efficient. It's great to use for rapid development. I also appreciate how secure it is, and how easily one can authentication over LDAP, HTTP Header variable, Oracle Database credentials, and Oracle Single-sign on. Best of all, it is being sold at an affordable price so you can get a return on your investment. You can even get an Oracle XE database and get this for free.

CONS: I have to say that the installation process is so complicated, making it very difficult for new developers who join in. Standards for web networks are also not met.

PROS: I like how deploying this is so easy and how reliably it performs.

CONS: I think the interface could be much more intuitive and friendlier to developers and users.

PROS: It's impressive how it helps us go through tasks quickly and efficiently. Another thing that I appreciated was how quickly our developers grasped how to use this tool.

CONS: I do wish that they would send us notifications when it comes to updates. We did not know that several updates had passed us by, which resulted in us having to set aside a couple of weeks to upgrade this when we had to upgrade our database.

PROS: I like a lot of things about this. First off, deployment can be done rapidly. Developing apps can be done out of the box and just as rapidly. I also like how innovatively it manages security and sessions. The support and functions of the plugins are to be commended, along with the flexibility of the designs and templates. As it is, it is already a powerful tool, but new features and upgrades that come with each version just make it even more powerful. I also appreciate how quickly it can respond to multiple database queries. Finally, I also like that you get it for free with Oracle and that support from Oracle is also provided.

CONS: It is a unique development IDE, so it might take a while before users get the hang of it because of the steep learning curve. I can also understand if some developers opt for something that gives them more control over the environment compared to this one. There is also the fact that this doesn't strictly follow the MVC framework since it runs SQL/PL, but whether that's a pro or a con really depends on the developer.

PROS: The thing that I love the most about this is the flexibility it gives me when it comes to developing a web-based application. It's so easy that I came up with an app that is now being used company-wide.

CONS: I think improvements can be made when it comes to reporting.

PROS: If you're looking for an easy way to convert your paper processes into digital ones, I recommend using this tool. I appreciate how it can easily connect to the SIS and several other connections, enabling you to quickly come up with applications ranging from small to mid-sized. I also like that our developers who use this have a lot of options to choose from when they're creating an application.

CONS: I do wish that the learning curve isn't as steep as it is. Our developers had to take some time before getting the hang of this software and using it effectively

PROS: I have to admit that when I first started using the beta version of this tool it was really hard to get the hang of it. However, this newest version seems to have improved on all of that immensely. It's not an overstatement to say that this is the best app I've used in my career, with the plugins available improving the user experience when it comes to this application.

CONS: One thing that has not been improved over time is the configuration process, which is still difficult especially when compared to other similar applications. While there have been a lot of improvements made since the beta version, a lot of things can still be done. I also think that users who don't have a backup site might find an issue with the fact that this is a single-source database.

PROS: The company I work for has been using this product for several years now, and I have to say that it is really a great tool for rapid development, especially since the price is very affordable. If you're a company looking for a solution that doesn't inflate costs but still contributes to organization growth, then this is the tool for you. There aren't a lot of people who use this in my area as of the moment, but I think this will change since this is really indispensable to midsize companies when it comes to development.

CONS: There are several things that I think can be improved on. For one, the configuration process could be simpler, as currently, it is more complicated than it needs to be. I also think it is a bit of a risk to have a tool like this save only in a single machine and have one single database have the audit trail, version control, and source control. Future versions of this tool should look into this.

PROS: I like how easy it is for me to come up with an application that is user-facing and gives users the option to add/update/view information, even without knowledge of coding. Interacting with our data warehouse systems is even possible to users. User authentication is also something I don't need to worry about when building user interactive web apps, and that's all thanks to this tool. I also appreciate how I can communicate with outside services thank to the REST function. Because of that, I can take the data from there and include it to what I present to the user.

CONS: I think the biggest negative when it comes to this software is the fact that getting the hang of it can take a little while. The learning curve is a bit steep. This could be more user-friendly. I also think that other software can do some things better than this one.

PROS: There are many things that I like about this tool, foremost of which is the applications that come pre-built with it. They're really helpful since you can look at them as an example of how to properly use SQL/pl. I also appreciate how easy it is to implement this with other oracle products.

CONS: It's already a powerful tool, but it is limited by the fact that it's not a full platform like SOA. A such, there aren't components for BPMN or BPEL. This makes integrating with another database difficult, so be sure that you already have a good database before using this.