Oracle SQL Developer is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) integrated development environment from Oracle Corporation. Oracle SQL Developer is a free tool that simplifies PL/SQL code development, the database design, and modeling and administration for standalone and cloud deployments. This tool enhances the user's experience by maximizing productivity and extensibility.
SQL Developer is a Java-based cross-platform tool that can run on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.
Oracle SQL Developer supports Oracle Database versions 10g, 11g, and 12c. With Oracle Database 12c Multitenant architecture, SQL Developer extends full support for various multitenant operations. In addition to the support for Oracle Databases, the tool also allows users to connect to non-Oracle Databases including MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Sybase, and Teradata. The extensible framework enables users to develop custom extensions in order to address specific requirements.
SQL Developer was first released in March, 2006. The initial release of SQL Developer included basic features such as a schema browser, an SQL worksheet to run SQL and invoke SQL scripts, a PL/SQL editor, code debugging, and running basic reports. Since then, the tool has grown immensely and matured over the years. At the time of writing, the latest release of SQL Developer is 4.1.
Oracle SQL Developer provides powerful features and interfaces for code development, administrative activities, and data modeling. It offers rich editors for developers who work with SQL, PL/SQL, and stored program units. SQL Developer can run SQL queries, monitor performance through execution plans and SQL tuning, and prepare scripts. Database developers can build PL/SQL applications, debug them, and perform run-time testing.
With SQL Developer 3.0, the DBA panel in the tool added the functionality to perform common DBA tasks and activities. The new feature additions such as the data miner, data modeler, database navigator, and DBMS scheduler provide a range of administrative functionalities in the tool. Database administrators can perform core administration tasks such as export/import through data pump, RMAN, user and role management, and resource management. SQL Developer integrates seamlessly with Oracle APEX, thereby allowing APEX developers to browse, deploy, and export applications.
With the most recent version, more DBA activities have been incorporated to make it more feature-rich and complete.
For database architects, SQL Developer offers a data modeling solution with SQL Developer Data Modeler (SDDM). The SDDM enables architects to create data flow diagrams, design versioning via subversion, import designer repositories, and most importantly perform logical, relational, and physical data modeling.
With the release of Oracle SQL Developer 4.0 and onwards, the tool follows Oracle's data management strategy by supporting Oracle Database 12c Multitenant option, cloud deployments, Oracle NoSQL and JSON. In addition, it includes a brand new command line interface utility to enhance user experience. With native support for Oracle Rest Data Services in Oracle Database 12c, Web application developers can work with SQL Developer to create and alter services. Database administrators can now run ASH, AWR, and ADDM reports from the performance page in the DBA panel. SQL Developer 4.0's new features can be summarized as follows:
Support for Oracle Database 12c Multitenant architecture
Support for Oracle NoSQL Database
Support for database products such as TimesTen, Data Miner, XML DB, and Spatial and Graphs
Support for Java 7
Querying JSON data in relational format
New instance viewer enables the monitoring of wait events, storage, log switches, and database processes
Chapter 12, Working with Oracle SQL Developer, focuses on various features of the Oracle SQL Developer tool.