François Briard GS-AIS-HRCAPPS, 21 June 2013

Oracle Application Express (APEX)for Mobile Web Applications

Disclaimer• Even if widely used in the past and still in use, Oracle

Application Express (APEX) is not the official GS-AIS Development Tool (neither for desktop or mobile web apps)

• This presentation is based on personal experience made with the tool out of the AIS main scope (i.e. Open Days tools)

APEX in a nutshell• Oracle Application Express is a free rapid development tool

to create web applications relying on Oracle database data.

• PL/SQL and jQuery based• Graphical interface on the web• Very strong development community (400’000 developers)• Very active forum (3rd in OTN) and complete website• Strong support of jQuery (mobile) in a declarative way• Possibility to package applications and plugins• Supported at CERN and course offered by HR training• Competences needed:

• Main: Oracle, SQL, PL/SQL• Optional: Javascript, jQuery, HTML

Architecture

• Simple 2-Tier Architecture (can be 3)• Pages dynamically rendered using

database metadata• No code generation or file based

compilation• Runs everywhere Oracle Database

runs

Demo

My experience• Desktop and Mobile versions of a web app are 2 web apps

• Desktop UI = much data / few clicks• Mobile UI = few data / much clicks

• Proactive reading of jQuery mobile documentation is a plus

• Reuse what jQuery Mobile offers

• Make extensive use of the « Dynamic Actions » (AJAX)