Oracle Database 23ai: New Features for Developers

Prerequisites:

• An understanding of SQL and relational database concepts
• Experience with application development in Java or similar languages
• Familiarity with basic PL/SQL or server-side scripting concepts

Audience

• Application developers (Java, Quarkus, or similar)
• Database developers and PL/SQL engineers
• DevOps engineers responsible for developer tooling and CI environments

Overview:

Oracle Database 23ai is the latest long-term release focused on developer productivity and built-in AI capabilities, including AI Vector Search, JSON/relational duality enhancements, async/pipelining drivers, SQL/PLSQL improvements, and new operational features that benefit modern application development and AI-enabled workloads.

This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is aimed at intermediate-level developers who wish to learn the new 23ai features and apply them in real development scenarios to reach a Basic-Intermediate skill level.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the key developer-focused features introduced in Oracle Database 23ai and when to apply them.
• Use AI Vector Search and the new JSON/relational capabilities in sample applications.
• Leverage async/pipelining driver features and practice improved client-server workflows for better throughput.
• Apply practical techniques for testing, debugging, and deploying 23ai-based application code in development environments.

Format of the Course

• Interactive lecture and targeted demonstrations.
• Hands-on labs using Oracle Database 23ai Free and developer tools.
• Guided exercises with sample Java/Quarkus and front-end examples.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version of this course (language stack focus, deeper PL/SQL content, or additional labs), please contact us to arrange.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction and What's New in Oracle Database 23ai

• Release overview, positioning, and developer-centric roadmap.
• High-level tour of AI Vector Search, JSON/relational duality, and async drivers.
• How 23ai changes typical developer workflows and application patterns.

2. Getting Hands-on: Environment and Tools (Lab)

• Installing and using Oracle Database 23ai Free for labs.
• Setting up JDK, IDE, and client drivers (JDBC, R2DBC where applicable).
• First connection, simple queries, and sample project scaffold.

3. JSON Relational Duality and New Data Types (Lab)

• Using the improved JSON data type and JSON collections in application code.
• Duality patterns: when to use relational vs JSON approaches.
• Examples: storing, querying, and updating JSON objects from Java/Quarkus apps.

4. AI Vector Search and Developer Use Cases (Lab)

• Introduction to AI Vector Search, vector data types, and vector indexes.
• Building a small semantic-search example: embedding generation, storage, and similarity queries.
• Integrating Vector Search with application code and libraries (LangChain/LlamaIndex examples discussed conceptually).

5. Asynchronous Programming, Pipelining, and Performance Patterns

• Understanding driver-level pipelining and async request patterns for JDBC, R2DBC, and other drivers.
• Client-side patterns (reactive streams, Java virtual threads) and server impact.
• Practical lab: implement pipelined calls and measure throughput improvements.

6. SQL, PL/SQL Enhancements, and Security Controls

• New SQL/PLSQL language features relevant to developers (e.g., schema annotations, direct joins in updates, new Boolean type).
• Overview of SQL Firewall and how it improves runtime security of executed SQL.
• Hands-on: migrate a small procedure to use new language features and test SQL Firewall behavior in a controlled lab.

7. Testing, Debugging, and Deployment Best Practices (Lab)

• Unit testing database logic, generating representative test data, and measuring behavior with new features.
• Packaging and deploying developer apps that use 23ai features to test environments.
• Checklist: performance tuning, compatibility considerations, and next steps for production readiness.

Summary and Next Steps