Anchr developers are enjoying themselves at APEX World 2023 in Zeist, the Netherlands

APEX World, which was already in its thirteenth edition this year, is a conference that offers participants a unique opportunity to network, learn from experts, and gain insights into the latest APEX features and best practices. APEX World 2023 provided a variety of informative sessions and workshops this year. With a theme of 'Let's integrate' and keynotes from Marc Sewtz, Senior Director Software Development at Oracle, Andreea Munteanu, APEX Developer at Oracle, and Menno Hoogendijk, Developer at Oracle, it could only be captivating. They shared their experiences and perspectives on the future of APEX. 

Marc Sewtz discussed key milestones from the past year during his keynote and gave a sneak peek of what is coming in the APEX 23.1 version: new features such as Template Reports, easier invocation of REST APIs, progress for PWAs, a new option to run page processes in the background, and closer integration with SQL Developer Web. The session also provided a preview of the Oracle APEX roadmap for 23.2 and beyond. 

Andreea Munteanu talked in her keynote about the use of REST functions and automations in APEX. Menno Hoogendijk then discussed the evolution of templates and how APEX 23.1 Template Directives takes it to the next level.   

It was two enlightening days, as evidenced by Kim Mertens, Software Engineer & Team Lead at Anchr and Kristof Bellens, Unit Manager Technology & Quality at Anchr. ‘I particularly remember the ‘Template Components’, Kristof shares. ‘This is a new interesting feature in the next version APEX 23.1. ‘We also received information about how an APEX application can be used offline and about an MLE database. This offers possibilities to process other languages within the database’.

Furthermore, the integration of external libraries in APEX is something to remember, Kim adds. ‘This shows that APEX is certainly not a black box, but that it can be extended’. And perhaps the most important takeaway from the two-day event: ‘I have seen confirmation that the tools we have chosen at Anchr for APEX Development are the right ones’.  

Anchr, which builds several customer projects using Oracle APEX, was eager to participate. 'Not in the least because it is the ideal opportunity to learn more,' says Kim Mertens. 'It's a well-known conference for APEX developers and users where you are informed about the latest APEX developments and trends. I've discovered several options here in the new version.'  

Additionally, APEX World brings together developers, experts, and users from all over the world. 'The networking aspect is quite important here,' adds Kristof Bellens. 'Exchanging ideas, discussing common problems, and building strong connections is what makes the conference valuable for me.' 'APEX product managers and developers can also meet each other to provide feedback and influence the future development of APEX.' In short, it's an educational two-day event, concludes Kim Mertens: 'We are completely up-to-date and ready to put our new knowledge to work with our clients.'

APEX is a programming language and development platform for building enterprise applications on top of the Oracle database. It offers a powerful set of tools and features for the rapid development of database-driven web applications, including interactive reports, forms, charts, and more.  

Building and migrating Oracle applications. That's in Anchr's DNA. With a track record of over 35 years, Anchr is the preferred Oracle partner for numerous large and mid-sized companies in Belgium and the Netherlands, across various sectors. For each client, Anchr focuses on maximum alleviation of burdens. 

• 150+ in-house experts with SQL, Forms, and APEX experience 
• Agile approach with short delivery cycles 
• Full outsourcing or co-development 
• Hybrid & private cloud services and hosting. 

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