Top PL/SQL Development Tools

This post will describe some of the most popular tools for Oracle SQL, PL/SQL development. Many tools like SQL Developer, TORA, and DreamCoder are completely free, whereas many popular tools like Toad for Oracle, PL/SQL Developer, SQL Navigator are partially free for a trail and after that can be bought per user or contract basis. It is upon you and your project, what particular software you will use for your application development.

1] Oracle SQL Developer:

Use: Free
Developed by: Oracle Corporation
Description: It is a free integrated development environment that simplifies the development and management of Oracle Database. SQL Developer offers complete end-to-end development of your PL/SQL applications, a worksheet for running queries and scripts, a DBA console for managing the database, a reports interface, a complete data modeling solution, and a migration platform for moving your 3rd party databases to Oracle.
Recommended Platform:

• OS: Windows XP-Service Pack 2, Windows 2003 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0, Fedora Core 4, Apple Mac OS X Version 10.4.x
• CPU Type and Speed: Pentium IV 2 GHz MHz or faster
• Memory: (minimum)1 GB RAM
• Hard Drive Space: (minimum) 110 MB
• Java SDK: JDK 1.7 or later

Core Features:

• Object Browser: It allows you to explore the contents of your database using the connection tree.
• SQL Worksheet: It is an editor that allows for execution of SQL statements, scripts, and PL/SQL anonymous blocks. Basic SQL Worksheet functionality includes: SQL statement and script execution recall, SQL formatting, Explain Plan, Autotrace, SQL Tuning Advisor, Code Intellisense, Visual Query Builder, Integrated File History and Change Logging.
• Data Grids: The grids present data in a spreadsheet, row:col like interface. These are used throughout the product, but primarily for displaying the contents of tables and the results from executing one or more queries. It allows export the data to many popular formats, filtering and multi-column sorting, custom display for NULL values, search and highlight and advanced data type viewers for BLOBs, XML, Dates, etc.
• Procedure Editor: It is a complete IDE for the PL/SQL programming language. Stored Procedures, Functions, Packages, Types, and Triggers can be executed, compiled, refactored and more using the Procedure Editor.
• Reports: Oracle SQL Developer ships with many pre-defined reports you can run to learn more about the contents, activity, and configuration of your database.
• DBA Console: Any existing SQL Developer connection can be added to the DBA panel, available under the View menu. This allows users with administrative privileges to access features across the following areas: Database Configuration, Data Pump, RMAN, Resource Manager, Security and Storage.
• Unit Testing: SQL Developer provides a unit testing mechanism for your PL/SQL code. Create and run tests that validate your programs are doing what you say they should be doing.
• Database Utilities: From the Tools menu, users can access several powerful and wizard-driven mechanisms for performing routine database tasks, including: Database Copy, Database Diff, Database Export, Database Import, Monitor Sessions and Monitor SQL.
• Data Modeler: Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is a separate, stand-alone data modeling solution.
• Oracle Database Migrations: Oracle SQL Developer is the primary migration platform for Oracle Database. You can easily move your Teradata, DB2, Sybase, SQL Server, MySQL, and Access databases and applications to Oracle with SQL Developer.
• Version Control: Oracle SQL Developer ships with support for Subversion and Git by default.

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 2] PL/SQL Developer:

 

Use: 30 days trail Free
Developed by: Allround Automations
Description: PL/SQL Developer is an Integrated Development Environment that is specifically targeted at the development of stored program units for Oracle Databases. Over time we have seen more and more business logic and application logic move into the Oracle Server, so that PL/SQL programming has become a significant part of the total development process. PL/SQL Developer focuses on ease of use, code quality and productivity, key advantages during Oracle application development.
Recommended Platform:

• OS: Windows 2000, XP, 2003, 2008, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Supported Oracle Versions: 7.x, 8.x, 8i, 9i, 10g, 11g and 12c

Core Features:

• Powerful PL/SQL Editor: Some main features of its PL/SQL Editor are: Syntax Highlighting, SQL and PL/SQL help, Object Descriptions, Code Assistant, Compiler Hints, Refactoring, PL/SQL Beautifier, Code Contents, Code Hierarchy, Code Folding, Hyperlink Navigation, Macro Library etc.
• PL/SQL Beautifier: To format your SQL and PL/SQL code through a user-defined set of rules.
• SQL Window: allows you to enter any SQL statement or multiple statements and view or edit the results in a grid.
• Command Window: To develop and execute SQL scripts.
• Object Browser: A configurable tree-view that displays all information that is relevant to PL/SQL development.
• Query Builder: The graphical Query Builder makes it easy to create new select statements or modify existing ones.
• Integrated Debugger: This offers all features you could wish for: Step In, Step Over, Step Out, Run until Exception, Breakpoints, View & Set Variables, View Call Stack, and so on.
• Reports: Built-in Report functionality to run standard and custom reports against application data and data dictionaries.
• Diagrams: Graphical representation of a selection of objects.
• Projects: To organize the work with collection of source files, database objects, notes, and options.
• Regression Testing: For regression testing you can use PL/SQL Developer’s built-in Test Manager. You can define and run a Test Set, and quickly determine if all tests run correctly.
• To-Do Items: You can use To-Do Items in any SQL or PL/SQL source file to make a quick note that something needs to be done in this source file.
• Connection List: PL/SQL Developer allows you to work with multiple connections simultaneously.
• DBMS Scheduler: You can use the DBMS Scheduler tool to access the Oracle database scheduler (DBMS_SCHEDULER) provided in Oracle10g and later.
• Performance Optimizing: To optimize the performance to your SQL and PL/SQL code, you can use the PL/SQL Profiler to view timing information of each executed line of PL/SQL code (Oracle8i and later).
• Compare User Objects: The Compare User Objects function allows you to compare a selection of objects, to visualize the differences, and to execute or save a SQL script that will apply the necessary changes.
• Export User Objects: To export the DDL (Data Definition Language) statements of a selection of objects of a user, you can use the Export User Objects tool.
• Tools: PL/SQL Developer includes several tools to make everyday development easier. You can recompile all invalid objects, search for text in database sources, import and export tables, generate test data, import text files or ODBC data, compare table data, monitor dbms_alert and dbms_pipe events, view session information, and so on.
• Authorization: Through the PL/SQL Developer authorization function you can easily define which functions can be used by specific database users or roles.

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 3] Toad for Oracle:

Use: 30 days trail Free
Developed by: Quest Software (Now Dell)
Description: Toad for Oracle is a comprehensive database tool for development and administration that enables you to perform daily tasks efficiently and accurately. Only Toad combines the deepest functionality available with extensive automation and intuitive workflows. With Toad, database professionals of all skill and experience levels can collaborate and work efficiently and accurately. This Oracle database tool is available in a variety of editions to meet the unique needs of your job function.
Recommended Platform:

• OS: Windows 2003 through Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit), Windows 2012 (64-bit only)
• CPU: Pentium
• Memory: (minimum) 1 GB RAM (for 32-bit), 2 GB RAM (for 64-bit)
• Hard Drive Space: (minimum) 120 MB (for 32-bit), 150 MB (for 64-bit)
• Oracle Version: 8.0.6, 8.1.7, 9i, 9i R2, 10g, 10g R2, 11g, 11g R2, 12c

Core Features:

• The Toad for Oracle Xpert Edition gives you the power to build, edit, and format code in your Oracle database, as well as eliminate performance issues in your code.
• Automated SQL optimization.
• Maintain code integrity through team coding and integration with version control.
• Automate configurable, objective code reviews and reports.
• Scan code for problematic SQL statements and, with one click, find the most efficient SQL alternative.
• Build programs according to pre-defined project coding standards and apply code formatting.
• Trace user sessions and visually display Oracle trace file output.
• Access online PL/SQL, SQL, and database administration knowledge bases, including Knowledge Xpert for PL/SQL and Knowledge Xpert for Oracle Administration.
• Build queries for any database platform and export them to any format, including Excel.
• Share project assets such as templates, scripts, and code snippets with other team members, using the Project Manager.
• Rerun Toad tasks or build entire workflows with Automation Designer and replay them later.
• Visualize and better understand the schema environment using ER Diagram and Code Road Map.
• Streamline your workflow via integration with Oracle’s import and export utilities.
• Use the Export File Browser to simplify the extraction of useful information, including objects and data from an Oracle export file, saving you the hassle of importing the entire file.

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 4] SQL Navigator:

Use: 30 days trail Free
Developed by: Quest Software (Now Dell)
Description: SQL Navigator is a powerful, lightweight tool built around an advanced PL/SQL editor with a GUI object browser giving users quick access to database objects and the ability to make PL/SQL editing and testing fast and effortless. SQL Navigator makes it simple to write, edit, and maintain database objects through automation and an easy-to-use graphical interface. It not only offers basic development and debugging help, but also prevents performance issues from impacting production and end users with robust SQL optimization. The tool also provides a Multi-threaded environment for executing long running queries in a separate thread in the background. SQL Navigator is available in four editions: SQL Navigator Base Edition, SQL Navigator Professional Edition, SQL Navigator Xpert Edition and SQL Navigator Development Suite.
Recommended Platform:

• OS: Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro x64 Edition, Windows Vista Business (32 bit), Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit, Windows Server 2012 (64 bit), Windows 7 Business & Enterprise, Windows 8
• CPU: Pentium IV or higher
• Memory: (minimum)1 GB RAM
• Hard Drive Space: (minimum) 250 MB
• Oracle Versions: 8.1.7, 9i, 9iR2, 10gR1, 10gR2, 11gR1, 11gR2

Core Features:

• Code Xpert: Reveals software quality, shortens test cycles, lowers error rates, reduces maintenance efforts, uncovers software changes, and locates high-risk code through industry-leading metrics and test coverage techniques.
• Team coding: Helps to maintain code integrity and integration with version control.
• ER Diagram: Lets user model a table and see the dependencies and joins to other tables.
• Code Road Map: Showcases the complex interdependencies of PL/SQL code within the database.
• SQL Optimizer: Offers an integrated and enhanced SQL optimization functionality, available in the SQL Navigator Xpert Edition, and provides intelligent recommendations, SQL scanning, and index optimization.
• Job Scheduler: Helps manage all of your jobs, job classes, schedules, and programs in one central location.
• Project Manager: Allows you to keep track of the projects you work on and share them.