Oracle Application Express (APEX) Reviews

Our company uses the solution as a development platform for client projects that include marketplaces.  

We have five developers and 200 other users. 

The autonomous database is valuable and provides the main structure for code development. 

The solution does not include a default or custom template like other products. 

The PL/SQL format is a bit limiting so newer technologies should be added. We currently cannot write anything beyond PL/SQL. 

I have been using the solution for a few months. 

The solution is stable. 

The solution is scalable. 

Customer support is good and gives unconditional assistance. 

I rate support a ten out of ten. 

Positive

One of our customers previously used OutSystems and Mendix. 

The setup is very easy and just takes a few minutes. We can start building applications within five minutes. 

The solution cloud-based so there is no implementation. Everything is almost done already so it takes two clicks to complete setup. 

The pricing is very good and less expensive than Mendix or OutSystems. Pricing is a little bit higher than Microsoft products. 

Extra features can be purchased based on your needs. Identity access management and token authentication are a little bit costly. 

We also use SharePoint for normal application development.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Our company has a partnership with the solution and we use it as a development platform. We have between 500 to 1,000 users. 

The virtual patching feature is valuable. 

The solution does its job by providing the needed protection. 

The easy-to-use format is flexible and can scale. 

The solution does not support the Linux platform. 

I have been using the solution for two years. 

The solution is pretty stable. 

The solution is scalable with no issues. 

Technical support is good and interactions with them are smooth. 

I rate technical support a nine out of ten. 

Positive

The initial setup is straightforward so I rate it a ten out of ten. 

Our company is meeting goals for ROI. 

The pricing is mid-range so is neither expensive nor cheap. 

I rate pricing a nine out of ten. 

Evaluate your implementation team properly before contracting with them. It is important to receive help from the best team in the market.

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

It's a low-code platform where you can go for any customization or dashboard. You can use the solution to create any application, and then we can connect with the real-time API.

You can customize the solution to create a console where only business users can access and download files if they want to extract the data.

The migration process is difficult in Oracle Application Express. It would be helpful if the solution provided more video tutorials and upfront problem-solving documentation in the future.

I have been using Oracle Application Express (APEX) for one and a half years.

Oracle Application Express is a stable solution.

Our clients for Oracle Application Express are small-scale businesses.

The solution is moderately priced, where it is neither cheap nor expensive. The solution's pricing depends on how it is going to be utilized. Almost 5GB to 20GB of database would be free. Anything more than that needs to be procured, and then it'll be charged monthly. Users have to pay extra to own the license and for its maintenance.

The solution's low-code approach is very good. It improves our productivity and adds a different layer to the existing products, which gives visibility to the customer. It's easy to configure Oracle Application Express.

Maintaining the solution is not very difficult. It will be difficult if you want to change the existing framework and don't know the functionality properly. Only a technical person who has already worked with the platform can upgrade the solution.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

Our business applications include healthcare, administrative, and planning tools. The environment consists of on-premise databases with an Oracle ORDS Tomcat stack and other JavaScript utilities on top of Linux Virtual Machines. There are legacy solutions, such as Oracle 11 with APEX 5.1 and Oracle 19 with APEX 20. These solutions have proven to be quite stable, but you need to do proper planning and profiling of heavy database transactions for more significant queries and heavy transaction processing.

Oracle APEX has proven to be a solid "low-code" solution that works quite well for simple and complex scenarios of data-intensive applications. Integrating the tool with the robust underlying Oracle Database allows a team to quickly create and deploy functionality iteratively. Running the tool on top of Linux-based virtual machines can slow things down, but the work gets done, and using the Oracle XE editions for some clients has been an adequate solution for POCs or even small non-critical production apps.

Oracle APEX's reporting features are simple yet powerful. The ability to quickly create CRUD screens has simplified many RAD discovery processes, while the APEX environment allows the product owners and dev teams to quickly understand the complex solutions and employ usage statistics to identify areas requiring improvement. The option to add external JavaScript tools in screen development enables the development of complicated mobile or web usage scenarios in rare cases where the APEX UX  is not enough.

Oracle should implement vertical and horizontal data segmentation in APEX's security framework, so Dev teams don't need to do any heavy lifting in the APEX screens. This is a common issue in enterprise apps. It would be nice to seamlessly integrate Git repositories into the development process since the current solution can result in overlapping work or an eventual overwrite. The provided example apps are great, but they could benefit from some added documentation in the "explanation screens".

I've been using Oracle APEX since 2006.

Oracle Apex is stable.

Oracle Apex scales well, but you need a good admin who knows how to work with DBA and Linux.

Oracle support has room for improvement.

Neutral

Setting up APEX requires Oracle and Linux admin experience.

We implemented APEX with an in-house team.

APEX is free, but Oracle Database is not.

I rate Oracle APEX eight out of 10. It's a good tool that needs more promotion, particularly the cloud solution.

I use Oracle APEX to build forms and pages for end users to easily manage customer complaints and perform quick fixes. By providing a user-friendly interface with proper validation, we empower end users to address issues themselves, reducing the need for backend database intervention. APEX has been a highly efficient tool for facilitating user transactions and resolving customer complaints swiftly.

One standout feature of Oracle APEX is its seamless integration with backend procedures, allowing for quick updates without changing the front-end interface. Additionally, dynamic actions streamline user interactions, enabling complex behaviors like button interactions and API calls with ease. These features drastically improve development efficiency by simplifying backend-to-frontend changes and providing extensive customization options through dynamic actions.

One area for improvement in Oracle APEX is its workflow orchestration capabilities. While it excels in forms and reports, handling complex workflows with waiting states and asynchronous responses needs enhancement. Simplifying workflow management to align with modern architecture standards, like in Fusion, would make APEX more robust and user-friendly.

I have been using Oracle APEX for two years.

Comparing Oracle Form Builder to Oracle APEX, the major advantage of APEX is its ease of layout customization and built-in features, making it more user-friendly than Form Builder. In APEX, layout adjustments are simple with pre-built options and HTML functions, while Form Builder requires meticulous coding and often relies on custom PLL files for advanced customization. Additionally, APEX allows seamless execution of PLC code from the backend, unlike Form Builder, where syntax differences complicate the process. Overall, APEX offers a more streamlined and efficient development experience compared to Form Builder.

Setting up Oracle APEX is straightforward and usually requires just a one-time installation. It is often included for free with Oracle Database versions starting from 11c. Despite its availability, many users may not be aware of it. APEX serves as both a development and reporting tool, addressing users' dynamic and regular data needs efficiently. With APEX, we can quickly develop custom reports or interactive grids within minutes, automating processes and saving significant time in development cycles, typically taking just two to three months from requirement gathering to deployment.

I use Oracle APEX for rapid prototyping and deployment. It is the most efficient tool I have used, significantly reducing development time compared to older platforms. With its low-code interface and abundance of features like dynamic actions, APEX simplifies development, especially for those familiar with traditional forms. Its web-based nature and minimal need for customization further enhance its usability. Overall, APEX streamlines the development process and enables quick deployment of applications with minimal coding effort.

The integration capabilities of Oracle APEX are impressive. We have leveraged backend database connections via DB links to interact with multiple databases seamlessly. This allows us to consolidate data from different sources and generate comprehensive reports within a single APEX application. While we haven't fully explored all integration possibilities, APEX supports various functions like JSON files, web services, and REST APIs, offering potential for future integrations, such as with customer compliance systems. 

Overall, I would rate Oracle APEX as an eight out of ten.

Oracle Application Express (APEX) works on data automation. For example. We are building a web application that can auto audit or auto perform examinations for different data and just the user doesn't need to do the examination by itself or do the examination manually. This is exactly how the software works.

I particularly enjoy the web builder capabilities, especially the Page Designer.

It offers so many elements or components to choose from, which is a major plus for me. 

I don't need to know how things truly function with them, and I don't need HTML or have front-end understanding; I can just drag and drop and create or customize a web page by myself.

In my opinion, the UI of the entire program is quite complicated for beginners to understand, especially when it comes to finding a different list or, different kinds of features because the features are not really categorized in the same categories. 

Perhaps it is the name of the categories that are different or not exactly straightforward.

The user needs to think about or do more research on the internet to know where exactly the feature is that they are looking for or where they can find it.

Another issue I used to encounter was with the debugging functions. I believe this is an area where Oracle APEX could improve significantly in terms of displaying error messages or error pages.

It is very difficult to detect bugs or which bugs you are having when it comes to errors or which errors you have.

Oracle displays an error page to demonstrate the issue.

When compared to Arotech, or PowerApps, they show you the root cause of it at the very least, which is more information provided when it comes to debugging.

In terms of new features, I'd want to see any type of new functionality in the future, or at the very least update the tutorial or user interface.

The only thing I can think of that might be improved is additional information regarding the root cause or more troubleshooting suggestions.

I have been working with Oracle Application Express (APEX) for three months.

I believe that we are using version 2021.

It's definitely not the most recent version since I'm using it through the company's licensing. We are using an older version.

In my opinion, I believe it is stable. I haven't encountered any issues, or anything such as letting us have system errors, problems, or anything else.

I would rate the stability an eight or a nine out of ten.

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a scalable solution.

It has the flexibility to accept more users.

This solution is used by ten employees of the company. Half of the employees are administrators and the others are users.

The scalability is good.

We want to increase our use in the future, but I'm not sure if I'll remain with Oracle Application Express (APEX) or experiment with alternative forms of software and low-code apps.

Overall, I appreciate the approach, and I enjoy the program. It will definitely be one of the options in this approach in the future.

I have not reached out to technical support.

We are also working with Microsoft Power Apps.

Power App is only for my own use. It's also different, and there are clearly various use cases, however, I designed the procedure to synchronize a list. Basically, I have a list containing all of the product information, such as the product number, name, and date the data was generated and distributed.

I used it to create inventory management to view the current state of the product and then the production line. It has several applications, but I believe the directions of data analysis. 

It provides an overview of the list, and this is its purpose. This is how PowerApps is used.

The initial setup is quite straightforward, especially when connecting to the SQL workshop.

It took at least two months to get everything to function and then run certain operations, In general, I would estimate one to two months to create a basic program.

I had some assistance from some colleagues in my workplace, who have prior expertise, and they have been quite helpful. I have also learned a lot on the Internet, including instructions supplied by APEX websites.

At the time that I had started with this company, they had 15 to 20 employees who had been using this solution.

I am not aware of the pricing. I don't deal with this area.

I conducted research. Apex, Microsoft Power Apps, and others are also good.

It is also a useful program for doing data automation time. Unfortunately, I was not given the authority to pick which program to use.

This solution has been used in the company for a while and they wanted to build the information they had. I am fully dedicated to the program.

Oracle Application Express (APEX) excels in data automation and digitization. 

It also supports Dynamics reports and Dynamics Graphical charts, as well as analytical methods. 

I believe it is good, and it is simple to implement.

You will save a lot of time for developers to develop their use cases, or implement their use cases into the software.

It allows many users to users to use it. I would say it is good software with enough information on the Internet for people to learn.

Just maybe it's not really good for a brand new beginner who doesn't have any programming or software knowledge, it will be a little bit more difficult to speak with Apex, but overall, I think this local platform saved a lot of time for developers or companies to build their customized, management system or customized ERP.

I would rate Oracle Application Express (APEX) a seven out of ten.

The three-point loss is because of the debugging issue that they have, as well as the interface, which is not very straightforward and is not completely understood.

Currently, I am working on converting some reports from Oracle Discoverer to APEX. My activity involves generating reports on the E Business Suite, converting Discover AI to APEX Express. I work in a development platform capacity with Oracle APEX.

Oracle APEX is very easy to use and comes with a lot of ready-made components that speed up the process of creating reports and dashboards. It is part of our agreement with Oracle E Business Suite and offers seamless data retrieval and performance. Additionally, we utilize its dashboard and reporting capabilities.

The user interface needs to be improved. It should be more user-friendly.

I have been using Oracle APEX for three years.

I haven't faced any stability issues with Oracle APEX. There are no issues at all.

It is easy to scale up the solution for my projects.

I haven't contacted Oracle support for some reasons or tickets yet.

Neutral

I was using Power BI by Microsoft before switching to Oracle APEX.

I was not involved in the initial setup process.

Oracle APEX is part of our on-premises solution included in our agreement with Oracle E Business Suite, though I don't know the cost specifics. Power BI is licensed by the user.

I would recommend using Oracle APEX, especially if users are already utilizing Oracle E Business Suite. Oracle APEX is integrated with the business suite and offers numerous features and components that are easy to use. The data can be retrieved efficiently, though the UI can be improved. My rating for the solution is seven out of ten.

In the public sector, our clients are primarily using Oracle APEX to update their old systems. We have been working on government projects for over a decade, and many of our clients are moving from outdated tools like Oracle Forms and ADA Oracle to Oracle APEX. This shift lets them benefit from APEX's user-friendly, low-code approach, speeding up app development, and keeping them in line with modern web standards, resulting in better efficiency and user experiences.

The most valuable feature of Oracle APEX is its comprehensive set of features for creating user-friendly and visually appealing applications. This includes local development, remote templates, and graphic capabilities. Additionally, the platform offers tools like smart sheets, search wizards, and easy application creation from various file formats, making it highly adaptable. It also excels in configuring workloads and notifications, implementing reports, and allowing seamless attachment handling. The availability of plugins further enhances its value, making it a go-to choice for application development and use.

In terms of improvement, there should be a greater focus on AI and machine learning tools in Oracle APEX. While the platform is evolving, making these tools more accessible and user-friendly is crucial due to the rapid growth of AI and ML. Providing more pre-built packages and simplifying their usage would facilitate the platform's adoption in AI applications and machine learning, ensuring it stays relevant in these rapidly advancing fields.

I have been using Oracle APEX for three years.

I would rate the stability of the solution as a ten out of ten.

It is a very scalable solution. I would rate the scalability as a nine out of ten. Most of my clients are medium-sized businesses.

I would rate the technical support as a ten out of ten.

Positive

Deployment in Oracle APEX is a smooth and straightforward process, and we haven't had any issues with it. Even when creating different environment clones, we can easily migrate applications without complications. Deployment is quite efficient, and it typically takes less than an hour, often around half an hour, thanks to the support of a dedicated DBA and the use of the WebLogic application server. For deployment, after completing application development, we export the application files, including standard features. Then, these files are sent to the Logical Manager, who is the application server administrator. They handle the deployment on the WebLogic server.

I find the pricing of Oracle APEX to be very reasonable because it is free when you already have a license for Oracle database. This cost-effectiveness is a significant advantage.

My advice for those interested in using Oracle APEX is to start promptly, as there is a learning curve, particularly if you are less familiar with CSS and JavaScript. In the initial stages, you may encounter limitations when creating more complex interfaces and feature-rich applications, which may require additional effort in terms of CSS and workload. However, for straightforward applications, Oracle APEX is user-friendly and easy to use. Overall, I would rate it as a ten out of ten.