Chapter 1. Setting up an Oracle APEX and Ext JS Environment
In this chapter, we will go through the process of setting up a productive development environment for both Oracle Application Express (APEX) and Ext JS.
APEX applications are accessed by a web browser via an HTTP Server, which may use the Oracle APEX Listener, Oracle HTTP Server with the mod_plsql plug-in, or the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway to act as the web server.
Each of the web server options has advantages and disadvantages. We will examine the relevant merits of each option separately, before showing how to configure them to support development with Ext JS.
Setting up a development environment is more than just installing the relevant software. It's also about managing versioning and dependencies of your code, and configuration files and other project assets. Automating your backup and build processes ensures that you are able to deliver your software in a repeatable and consistent manner. Regular software releases should be a straightforward activity and not a major issue.
Making good choices setting up your development environment at the beginning of a project can be enormously beneficial for the entire lifecycle of the project. Getting it wrong can be equally as bad!
This chapter covers:
- APEX installation considerations
- Brief overview of the Ext JS SDK
- Merits of each of the web tier options: Oracle APEX Listener, Oracle HTTP Server with the mod_plsql plug-in, and the Embedded PL/SQL Gateway
- Loading the Ext JS SDK on each of the web tier options, and also onto hosted environments where you don't have direct access to the web server
- Setting up a Subversion source code repository for project assets
- Automating backup and build processes to simplify application deployments and reduce errors
By the end of the chapter, you will be fully set up and ready to code.