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Low-code development: changing the game with Oracle APEX
As technology evolves, software development is becoming more accessible to businesses and individuals. Low-code practices allow developers to build web and mobile applications with minimal coding efforts, saving time and resources. One standout low-code service is Oracle Application Express (APEX), which is gaining traction for its efficiency and ease of use.
According to Forrester, 87% of enterprise developers use low-code development platforms for at least some of their work. Building on this trend, this article will explore the basics of low-code development, its benefits, and examples from one popular low-code platform: Oracle APEX.
Key capabilities of Oracle APEX
APEX has transformed from a simple web application framework for Oracle databases into a comprehensive low-code development platform. It is integrated with Oracle Cloud and enables users to build scalable, data-driven applications. The Oracle APEX architecture consists of three layers—a web browser, the web server (Oracle REST Data Services), and an Oracle Database—ensuring data access with zero latency and smooth performance.
The APEX platform offers software developers, among others, the following significant capabilities:
Low-code
This is the foundation of Oracle APEX. Low-code development allows creators to apply ready-made modules and components to build applications, reducing the amount of manual coding required. This practice can significantly speed up the development process while reducing costs.
Security
The Oracle APEX low-code platform provides the necessary tools for building secure applications. Authentication and authorization help control access to the application, as well as manage users and their roles. Session management restricts concurrent sessions and enables session timeouts and idle logouts. Sensitive data is also protected through data encryption and file upload security measures. Oracle APEX components are designed to prevent SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Data management
The platform supports SQL queries and PL/SQL scripts for accessing and manipulating data. APEX provides interactive reports, charts, and dashboards, as well as manipulation capabilities to effectively extract insights from data.
Product Engineering Services
Explore our expertiseMobile-ready applications
APEX-based solutions can be adapted for mobile experience and turned into progressive web apps (PWAs). Mobile-optimized components and smart templates ensure the application can automatically adjust to different devices.
Oracle Database integration
APEX is deeply integrated with Oracle Database, giving APEX developers access to its features and capabilities. Data can also be integrated from different sources, such as a local database, a remote Oracle database, or a web service.
Customization
With the Universal Theme, APEX developers can build highly accessible applications and customize them to ensure brand alignment. The platform provides templates and components, such as menus, tabs, and forms, based on common design patterns to create a simple and user-friendly interface.
Benefits of using Oracle APEX
Low-code platforms have transformed software development, and Oracle APEX has emerged as a leading choice. Here are some key advantages driving its increasingly widespread adoption.
Streamlined development
The APEX low-code environment requires almost no hand coding, allowing platform users to focus on business logic rather than infrastructure setup. An intuitive drag-and-drop interface, prebuilt templates, visual design tools, and other features make application development an easy and quick process. Changes to an application can be made without extensive recoding.
Cost efficiency
The platform minimizes development and operational costs by eliminating the need for custom front-end development and extensive coding. Since APEX is free to use with Oracle Database and in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Free Tier, it offers lower infrastructure costs and no additional licensing costs.
Scalability
APEX integrates with Oracle Database, leveraging its built-in capacity for handling large data volumes. OCI adds autoscaling, load balancing, and high-performance storage to APEX-based solutions. APEX’s cloud-native deployment and database-centric architecture make it suitable for small- to medium-sized applications.
SQL and PL/SQL support
APEX uses SQL and PL/SQL, which lets developers build solid, data-centric apps. Developers proficient in these languages can write and run SQL queries to populate reports, charts, and interactive forms. Create, read, update, delete (CRUD) operations are simplified with declarative components and wizards, reducing the need for extensive hand coding. Moreover, PL/SQL lets developers do more than just basic data manipulation. They can use it to implement complex business logic, automate processes, and improve performance.
Tutorials and documentation
Oracle provides a wealth of resources to help developers learn and master APEX. From comprehensive user guides and detailed API documentation to interactive tutorials and hands-on labs, it offers learning paths suitable for both experienced developers and individuals with limited coding skills. Oracle APEX also provides starter and sample applications, as well as plug-ins to use and learn from, showcasing how different functionalities can be implemented in practice.
Use cases for Oracle APEX
The low-code platform provides a variety of use cases with out-of-the-box functionalities. Key Oracle APEX examples include:
Internal business applications
Leveraging Oracle APEX, in-house developers can create comprehensive tools to manage internal company processes, such as HR systems, inventory management, financial tracking, project and task management, and customer relationship management. These applications are easy to update as necessary when business needs change.
Data-intensive applications
APEX, backboned by Oracle Database, is well-suited for developing data-intensive applications, such as business intelligence tools, reporting dashboards, analytics platforms, and performance monitoring systems.
Prototyping
Prebuilt Oracle APEX components enable rapid prototyping of new solutions with minimal development effort. The platform also allows developers to quickly build proof of concept (POC) applications to validate business ideas and gather user feedback early in the development life cycle. This platform allows for efficient iteration, reducing the time and resources required to prove application feasibility before full-scale development.
CRUD applications
APEX simplifies the development of applications centered around CRUD operations, such as inventory management, CRM, project tracking, and e-commerce platforms, while Oracle Database capabilities simplify data handling.
SaaS applications
Oracle APEX is used to build software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications that support multiple tenants, such as CRM, HR, payroll systems, e-learning platforms, and B2B portals. The platform supports the management of different user groups through shared schemas, separate schemas per tenant, and separate databases per tenant.
The flexible, scalable, and cost-effective computing power of the cloud is driving businesses around the world to replace outdated on-premises technologies. From reducing IT costs to speeding up innovation, there are plenty of compelling reasons to begin the cloud migration path.
Our experience
Our team decided to test APEX capabilities and build a classified ads application. The goal was to see how quickly and effectively we could create a functional prototype to address real-world needs. This project involved setting up the Oracle APEX infrastructure on Oracle Cloud, designing the database structure, and developing key features of the application. The solution had to address typical challenges in web app development, including user management, content organization, and administrative control. With Oracle’s APEX low-code platform, it took us five weeks to deliver a viable prototype.
Key features implemented in five weeks:
- User management
A straightforward registration and login process enabling users to quickly and securely sign up using their emails.
- Content management
Users can create, edit, and delete ads, including uploading detailed descriptions and images.
- Search and filtering
Advanced search and filtering functionality, along with category-based navigation, allows users to easily browse and locate relevant ads.
- Role-based permission management
The application supports role-based access, ensuring appropriate permissions for admins, registered users, and non-registered users.
Oracle APEX’s pre-built templates, visual design tools, and integration capabilities were crucial in accelerating the project. What typically would have taken months in traditional frameworks was achieved in weeks. If you’d like to explore how our expertise and Oracle APEX can align with your goals, reach out to us today.
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Explore our expertiseConclusion
With compelling customization tools, powerful security features, and efficient data management capabilities, Oracle APEX can create high-performance web and mobile applications. The low-code approach makes it a cost-effective option, allowing companies to focus on business challenges and needs rather than the coding process. Given its benefits and versatile use cases, Oracle APEX is an attractive alternative for building applications across various industries. To learn more and launch your project, contact the EffectiveSoft team. Our experts provide specialized Oracle APEX consulting and software development services.
F.A.Q. about Oracle APEX development
Low-code development is a method of building software applications with minimal manual coding. Using drag-and-drop components and pre-built modules and templates, experienced developers and creators with minimal coding experience can quickly build applications. Oracle APEX is a widely used low-code platform that runs within Oracle Database and provides a web-based development environment.
While Oracle APEX is one of the top low-code development platforms, there are other alternatives. Compared to other solutions, APEX’s deep integration with the Oracle environment offers outstanding data management and performance for mission-critical applications. For companies already invested in Oracle technology, APEX is a cost-effective solution. It is also ideal for businesses looking for deep data capabilities.
One of Oracle APEX’s key features is the ability to build mobile-ready applications. Prebuilt UI components are optimized for mobile devices. You can also enable PWA functionalities and install your application on any device.
APEX solutions can be applied for various use cases across different industries. Internal business applications, data-intensive applications, rapid prototyping, report generation and analytics, customer portals and internal tools, workflow automation—these are just some of the most prominent business-critical use cases for this low-code platform.
There are three main options for hosting Oracle APEX solutions. Depending on your needs for scalability, management, control, and cost, you can choose cloud-based hosting, on-premises self-managed installation, or third-party services.
Since Oracle APEX runs within Oracle Database, the platform benefits from its built-in security measures, like transparent data encryption, Oracle Virtual Private Database (VPD), Oracle Real Applications Security (RAS), and database auditing. Through role-based authentication and authorization, session management, data encryption, and automatic protection against SQL injection and XSS attacks, you can be sure your application is secure and compliant.
Oracle APEX offers a high level of customization, allowing creators to easily tailor applications to their specific needs. Themes and templates enable UI and layout customization, forms and interactive grids allow the customization of application components, and PL/SQL processes and dynamic actions facilitate customized application logic and workflow.
You can migrate your existing application to Oracle APEX. Depending on the technology stack, database structure, application complexity, and other factors, the migration process may vary. Contact our team to learn more.
Service updates for Oracle APEX follow a regular cycle, with major releases occurring every 12 to 18 months and minor enhancements released quarterly.
Oracle APEX offers an array of benefits, like high performance, scalability, and customization, that can be leveraged to build secure enterprise applications. From basic CRM systems to workflow management and automation, businesses can use the low-code platform to build mission-critical applications quickly and cost-effectively.
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