Oracle APEX: A Quick Download and Installation Guide

Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a low-code development platform enabling you to rapidly build modern, responsive web applications for desktop and mobile devices. APEX is a core feature within the Oracle Database, providing a powerful tool to create solutions on top of your existing data.

Let’s delve into how you can download and get started with Oracle APEX.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the download process, make sure you have the following in place:

• An Oracle Database: Oracle APEX resides within your Oracle Database. Suitable versions include Standard Edition 2, Express Edition, and cloud-based Oracle databases.
• Web Server: You’ll need a web server to run your APEX apps. This could be the built-in Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS), Oracle HTTP Server (OHS), or others like Apache Tomcat.

Installation

1. Unzip:  Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a suitable location.
2. SQL*Plus: Connect to your Oracle Database as a user with SYSDBA privileges (e.g., the SYS user).
3. Run the installation script: Navigate to the extracted directory and execute the apexins.sql script:
4. SQL
5. @apexins.sql SYSAUX SYSAUX TEMP /i/ 
6. Use code with caution.
7. content_copy
8. Follow the Prompts: Provide any necessary details during the installation process.

Accessing Oracle APEX

1. Workspace Creation: Create an APEX workspace. You’ll be prompted to do this during the installation, or you can do it later.
2. URL: Once installed, access your APEX environment by visiting a URL that typically looks like this:
3. http://<hostname>:<port>/ords/apex_admin 
4. Replace <hostname> and <port> with your actual server details.
5. Login: Use the workspace and administrative credentials you established.

You’re In!

Congratulations, you have successfully downloaded and installed Oracle APEX! You’re ready to begin exploring the world of low-code development and create incredible database-driven web applications.

Additional Notes

• Precise installation steps and URLs vary depending on your database version and web server configuration.
• Always refer to the official Oracle APEX documentation for the most up-to-date and detailed instructions: 
• Oracle provides various cloud-based options where APEX is pre-installed and configured, such as Autonomous Database and APEX Application Development Service.