Oracle Database Tools updated - check out SQLcl

Today Oracle released new versions of:

• SQL Developer 4.1 EA2
• SQL Developer Data Modeler 4.1 EA2
• SQLcl (below SQL Developer downloads)

Also Oracle REST Data Services 3 got a new EA2 version.

You may want to check Kris Rice's blog for new features.

I already blogged about all of the tools before, but not yet about SQLcl.

This is a command line tool, I call it "SQL*Plus on steroids" (or as Jeff calls it SQL Developer meets SQL*Plus). It's particularly useful when you're on your server and quickly need to run some queries. Or if you're a command line guy/girl all the time, this tool is for you.

Here's a screenshot how to connect to your database with SQLcl from Linux.

Typing help will show you a list of quick shortcuts.

For example if you type APEX you get a list of your APEX applications

What I really like about SQLcl is that it formats the output so nicely. With SQL*Plus you had to set column widths, page sizes etc. Not with SQLcl, it's smart and formats it nicely.

Next to that you can quickly output your query in JSON format by typing "set sqlformat json":

There're many more features - a good starting point is this presentation and video by Jeff Smith.