Chris Saxon
@chrisrsaxon.bsky.social
Oracle Developer Advocate for SQL. Lover of quizzes and games of all kinds. Any views expressed belong to me.
chrissaxon.co.uk
chrissaxon.co.uk
Reposted by Chris Saxon
Calling #OracleACE: we want your assertion use cases!
We’re opening a bounty for creative, real-world solutions using assertions
Submit your blog post, video, script or slide deck the contribution app by the end of 15 March
Full details at buff.ly/fNgDHQv
We’re opening a bounty for creative, real-world solutions using assertions
Submit your blog post, video, script or slide deck the contribution app by the end of 15 March
Full details at buff.ly/fNgDHQv
February 13, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Calling #OracleACE: we want your assertion use cases!
We’re opening a bounty for creative, real-world solutions using assertions
Submit your blog post, video, script or slide deck the contribution app by the end of 15 March
Full details at buff.ly/fNgDHQv
We’re opening a bounty for creative, real-world solutions using assertions
Submit your blog post, video, script or slide deck the contribution app by the end of 15 March
Full details at buff.ly/fNgDHQv
Great work by the top 3 players in the Weekly DB comp on Oracle Dev Gym for January
1st mentzel.iudith
2st Mahamoutou
3rd Andrey Zaytsev
👏🏆
Thanks to all who took part
See the full rankings at devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
1st mentzel.iudith
2st Mahamoutou
3rd Andrey Zaytsev
👏🏆
Thanks to all who took part
See the full rankings at devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
devgym.oracle.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Great work by the top 3 players in the Weekly DB comp on Oracle Dev Gym for January
1st mentzel.iudith
2st Mahamoutou
3rd Andrey Zaytsev
👏🏆
Thanks to all who took part
See the full rankings at devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
1st mentzel.iudith
2st Mahamoutou
3rd Andrey Zaytsev
👏🏆
Thanks to all who took part
See the full rankings at devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
In Feb's Ask TOM Live we're looking at fourth normal form:
"A table is in 4NF if and only if, for every one of its non-trivial multivalued dependencies X ↠ Y, X is a superkey"
To help you understand this, would you prefer
A description of these technical terms?
Something more informal?
"A table is in 4NF if and only if, for every one of its non-trivial multivalued dependencies X ↠ Y, X is a superkey"
To help you understand this, would you prefer
A description of these technical terms?
Something more informal?
February 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
In Feb's Ask TOM Live we're looking at fourth normal form:
"A table is in 4NF if and only if, for every one of its non-trivial multivalued dependencies X ↠ Y, X is a superkey"
To help you understand this, would you prefer
A description of these technical terms?
Something more informal?
"A table is in 4NF if and only if, for every one of its non-trivial multivalued dependencies X ↠ Y, X is a superkey"
To help you understand this, would you prefer
A description of these technical terms?
Something more informal?
Reposted by Chris Saxon
New in Oracle Database #26ai - Aggregation Filters using the FILTER clause in #SQL.
db-oriented.com/2026/02/06/a...
@oracleace.bsky.social @sym42.bsky.social
db-oriented.com/2026/02/06/a...
@oracleace.bsky.social @sym42.bsky.social
Aggregation Filters - @DBoriented
New in Oracle 26ai: the FILTER clause allows to restrict the rows considered by aggregate functions
db-oriented.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 PM
New in Oracle Database #26ai - Aggregation Filters using the FILTER clause in #SQL.
db-oriented.com/2026/02/06/a...
@oracleace.bsky.social @sym42.bsky.social
db-oriented.com/2026/02/06/a...
@oracleace.bsky.social @sym42.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Saxon
Use Oracle FreeSQL.com as a remote test database
FreeSQL.com lets you use a free, hosted Oracle AI Database instance right from your browser. But, FreeSQL can also be used as a remote database for testing, POCs, and more! In this article, we'll walk though how to connect to a FreeSQL database from…
FreeSQL.com lets you use a free, hosted Oracle AI Database instance right from your browser. But, FreeSQL can also be used as a remote database for testing, POCs, and more! In this article, we'll walk though how to connect to a FreeSQL database from…
Use Oracle FreeSQL.com as a remote test database
FreeSQL.com lets you use a free, hosted Oracle AI Database instance right from your browser. But, FreeSQL can also be used as a remote database for testing, POCs, and more! In this article, we'll walk though how to connect to a FreeSQL database from your local machine, no database setup required. Login to FreeSQL.com To use FreeSQL as a remote database, you'll need to login using your Oracle account.
andersswanson.dev
February 4, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Use Oracle FreeSQL.com as a remote test database
FreeSQL.com lets you use a free, hosted Oracle AI Database instance right from your browser. But, FreeSQL can also be used as a remote database for testing, POCs, and more! In this article, we'll walk though how to connect to a FreeSQL database from…
FreeSQL.com lets you use a free, hosted Oracle AI Database instance right from your browser. But, FreeSQL can also be used as a remote database for testing, POCs, and more! In this article, we'll walk though how to connect to a FreeSQL database from…
Preventing overlapping start-end dates in history tables is a common challenge
Oracle AI Database gives you two ways to do this:
Guarantee consecutive ranges with foreign keys
Stop overlapping ranges with assertions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-s...
Oracle AI Database gives you two ways to do this:
Guarantee consecutive ranges with foreign keys
Stop overlapping ranges with assertions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-s...
February 5, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Preventing overlapping start-end dates in history tables is a common challenge
Oracle AI Database gives you two ways to do this:
Guarantee consecutive ranges with foreign keys
Stop overlapping ranges with assertions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-s...
Oracle AI Database gives you two ways to do this:
Guarantee consecutive ranges with foreign keys
Stop overlapping ranges with assertions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-s...
Congrats to the winners in the Oracle Dev Gym championships!
1st Andrey Zaytsev
2nd mentzel.iudith
3rd whab@tele2.at
🏆🍾
👏 to all competitors; we hope you enjoyed the challenge
Thanks to @kibeha.dk and @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing & reviewing quizzes
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
1st Andrey Zaytsev
2nd mentzel.iudith
3rd whab@tele2.at
🏆🍾
👏 to all competitors; we hope you enjoyed the challenge
Thanks to @kibeha.dk and @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing & reviewing quizzes
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
blogs.oracle.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Congrats to the winners in the Oracle Dev Gym championships!
1st Andrey Zaytsev
2nd mentzel.iudith
3rd whab@tele2.at
🏆🍾
👏 to all competitors; we hope you enjoyed the challenge
Thanks to @kibeha.dk and @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing & reviewing quizzes
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
1st Andrey Zaytsev
2nd mentzel.iudith
3rd whab@tele2.at
🏆🍾
👏 to all competitors; we hope you enjoyed the challenge
Thanks to @kibeha.dk and @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing & reviewing quizzes
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
Reposted by Chris Saxon
Exciting news, Oracle AI Database 26ai Container image now available container-registry.oracle.com @oracleace.bsky.social #ACED #oracle #26ai
January 29, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Exciting news, Oracle AI Database 26ai Container image now available container-registry.oracle.com @oracleace.bsky.social #ACED #oracle #26ai
...aaaaand we're done!
Great effort to all who took part; we'll review the results, tally up the scores, and announce the winners in the coming days
Great effort to all who took part; we'll review the results, tally up the scores, and announce the winners in the coming days
The Oracle Dev Gym annual championships are due to start soon!
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
January 29, 2026 at 2:49 PM
...aaaaand we're done!
Great effort to all who took part; we'll review the results, tally up the scores, and announce the winners in the coming days
Great effort to all who took part; we'll review the results, tally up the scores, and announce the winners in the coming days
The Oracle Dev Gym annual championships are due to start soon!
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
January 29, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The Oracle Dev Gym annual championships are due to start soon!
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
Best of luck to all competitors 🤞
Reposted by Chris Saxon
For those unfamiliar, this arrived in 26ai
January 28, 2026 at 2:43 PM
For those unfamiliar, this arrived in 26ai
With assertions in 23.26.1 you can define cross-table constraints
Answers can only be submitted while a question is live
Every question must have at least one choice
Only one choice can be true for single-choice questions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-d...
Answers can only be submitted while a question is live
Every question must have at least one choice
Only one choice can be true for single-choice questions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-d...
January 28, 2026 at 9:58 AM
With assertions in 23.26.1 you can define cross-table constraints
Answers can only be submitted while a question is live
Every question must have at least one choice
Only one choice can be true for single-choice questions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-d...
Answers can only be submitted while a question is live
Every question must have at least one choice
Only one choice can be true for single-choice questions
Find out how in my latest post blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-d...
Reposted by Chris Saxon
🎉 #Oracle #AI #Database 26ai Enterprise Edition is now generally available for Linux x86-64 on-prem!
Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition now GA for on-premises Linux x86-64
Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition is now generally available for Linux x86-64. You can download it from the usual places, such as the Oracle Database download page, Software Delivery Cloud (eDelivery), and My Oracle Support (the RU). Check out the Oracle AI Database New Features Guide to see all the new features that came in this release. …
www.geraldonit.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Chris Saxon
It’s there – Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download
This was a long wait - and finally, it's there - Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download on-prem. And as you may remember our announcement from Oracle AI World, Oracle AI Database 26ai replaced Oracle Database 23ai. What is…
This was a long wait - and finally, it's there - Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download on-prem. And as you may remember our announcement from Oracle AI World, Oracle AI Database 26ai replaced Oracle Database 23ai. What is…
It’s there – Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download
This was a long wait - and finally, it's there - Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download on-prem. And as you may remember our announcement from Oracle AI World, Oracle AI Database 26ai replaced Oracle Database 23ai. What is available? You can download now the Linux version of Oracle AI Database 26ai Enterprise Edition, 23.26.1.0.0, from the usual sources as a Gold Image include the RU or as a separate RU.
mikedietrichde.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:05 PM
It’s there – Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download
This was a long wait - and finally, it's there - Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download on-prem. And as you may remember our announcement from Oracle AI World, Oracle AI Database 26ai replaced Oracle Database 23ai. What is…
This was a long wait - and finally, it's there - Oracle AI Database 26ai is available for download on-prem. And as you may remember our announcement from Oracle AI World, Oracle AI Database 26ai replaced Oracle Database 23ai. What is…
Reposted by Chris Saxon
January 28, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Chris Saxon
📣 26ai is now available for download, x86-64 bit Linux distributions.
www.oracle.com/database/tec...
www.oracle.com/database/tec...
www.oracle.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:52 PM
📣 26ai is now available for download, x86-64 bit Linux distributions.
www.oracle.com/database/tec...
www.oracle.com/database/tec...
It's here at last!
Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1) Enterprise Edition for Linux x86-64 on premises is GA
Once again, there's a host of #SQL updates in this RU. Here are a few to get you started:
Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1) Enterprise Edition for Linux x86-64 on premises is GA
Once again, there's a host of #SQL updates in this RU. Here are a few to get you started:
Oracle AI Database New Features
This book describes the new features in Oracle AI Database 26ai.
docs.oracle.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:10 PM
It's here at last!
Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1) Enterprise Edition for Linux x86-64 on premises is GA
Once again, there's a host of #SQL updates in this RU. Here are a few to get you started:
Oracle AI Database 26ai (23.26.1) Enterprise Edition for Linux x86-64 on premises is GA
Once again, there's a host of #SQL updates in this RU. Here are a few to get you started:
Reposted by Chris Saxon
OMG ... I can't believe it. It is really gonna happen! #ComingSoon
January 22, 2026 at 4:27 AM
OMG ... I can't believe it. It is really gonna happen! #ComingSoon
I'm working on diagrams to visualize how #SQL works
Here are examples comparing different options for FETCH FIRST
The table at the top is the input
Below it are the rows returned for different options for the dots in
ORDER BY NUMBER FETCH FIRST ...
Which diagram do you prefer? Other comments?
Here are examples comparing different options for FETCH FIRST
The table at the top is the input
Below it are the rows returned for different options for the dots in
ORDER BY NUMBER FETCH FIRST ...
Which diagram do you prefer? Other comments?
January 7, 2026 at 10:41 AM
I'm working on diagrams to visualize how #SQL works
Here are examples comparing different options for FETCH FIRST
The table at the top is the input
Below it are the rows returned for different options for the dots in
ORDER BY NUMBER FETCH FIRST ...
Which diagram do you prefer? Other comments?
Here are examples comparing different options for FETCH FIRST
The table at the top is the input
Below it are the rows returned for different options for the dots in
ORDER BY NUMBER FETCH FIRST ...
Which diagram do you prefer? Other comments?
Congrats to 2025's top 3 players in the Oracle Dev Gym Weekly DB quiz
1st Stelios Vlasopoulos
2nd Andrey Zaytsev
3rd mentzel.iudith
🏆🎉
They & the rest of the top 50 players qualify for the annual championships, scheduled for
Thurs 29th Jan at 2pm UTC
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
1st Stelios Vlasopoulos
2nd Andrey Zaytsev
3rd mentzel.iudith
🏆🎉
They & the rest of the top 50 players qualify for the annual championships, scheduled for
Thurs 29th Jan at 2pm UTC
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
blogs.oracle.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Congrats to 2025's top 3 players in the Oracle Dev Gym Weekly DB quiz
1st Stelios Vlasopoulos
2nd Andrey Zaytsev
3rd mentzel.iudith
🏆🎉
They & the rest of the top 50 players qualify for the annual championships, scheduled for
Thurs 29th Jan at 2pm UTC
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
1st Stelios Vlasopoulos
2nd Andrey Zaytsev
3rd mentzel.iudith
🏆🎉
They & the rest of the top 50 players qualify for the annual championships, scheduled for
Thurs 29th Jan at 2pm UTC
blogs.oracle.com/sql/announci...
Reposted by Chris Saxon
Learning #SQL for your 2026 New Year's Resolution?
Head to Oracle Dev Gym
This has FREE classes to take you from
Your first SELECT & CREATE TABLE statements
On to recursive WITH and window function queries
And learning how to make these fast
Join at buff.ly/7gWfOdq
Head to Oracle Dev Gym
This has FREE classes to take you from
Your first SELECT & CREATE TABLE statements
On to recursive WITH and window function queries
And learning how to make these fast
Join at buff.ly/7gWfOdq
January 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Learning #SQL for your 2026 New Year's Resolution?
Head to Oracle Dev Gym
This has FREE classes to take you from
Your first SELECT & CREATE TABLE statements
On to recursive WITH and window function queries
And learning how to make these fast
Join at buff.ly/7gWfOdq
Head to Oracle Dev Gym
This has FREE classes to take you from
Your first SELECT & CREATE TABLE statements
On to recursive WITH and window function queries
And learning how to make these fast
Join at buff.ly/7gWfOdq
It's been a busy year on Oracle Dev Gym!
We've had
430,000+ answers
by 14,500+ people
Thanks to all who've taken part especially
@kibeha.dk & @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing the Weekly DB quizzes
Rajesh Vora for creating Groovy quizzes
See you in 2026
devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
We've had
430,000+ answers
by 14,500+ people
Thanks to all who've taken part especially
@kibeha.dk & @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing the Weekly DB quizzes
Rajesh Vora for creating Groovy quizzes
See you in 2026
devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
December 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
It's been a busy year on Oracle Dev Gym!
We've had
430,000+ answers
by 14,500+ people
Thanks to all who've taken part especially
@kibeha.dk & @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing the Weekly DB quizzes
Rajesh Vora for creating Groovy quizzes
See you in 2026
devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
We've had
430,000+ answers
by 14,500+ people
Thanks to all who've taken part especially
@kibeha.dk & @anthony-harper.bsky.social for writing the Weekly DB quizzes
Rajesh Vora for creating Groovy quizzes
See you in 2026
devgym.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p...
Reposted by Chris Saxon
Oracle SQLcl Version 25.4 is available, NOW.
Improvements for both 👩💻 and 🤖!
Improvements for both 👩💻 and 🤖!
Previously on @thatjeffsmith... Your favorite Oracle database CLI and MCP just got updated
Your favorite Oracle database CLI and MCP just got updated
Previously on @thatjeffsmith... Your favorite Oracle database CLI and MCP just got updated
www.thatjeffsmith.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Oracle SQLcl Version 25.4 is available, NOW.
Improvements for both 👩💻 and 🤖!
Improvements for both 👩💻 and 🤖!
Add key-value metadata to
Tables
Views
Columns
in Oracle AI Database with annotations
ALTER TABLE ... ANNOTATIONS ( an1 'val1', an2 'val2' )
These are like comments but better
Want to convert existing comments to annotations?
Here's a script to do it blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-c...
Tables
Views
Columns
in Oracle AI Database with annotations
ALTER TABLE ... ANNOTATIONS ( an1 'val1', an2 'val2' )
These are like comments but better
Want to convert existing comments to annotations?
Here's a script to do it blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-c...
December 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Add key-value metadata to
Tables
Views
Columns
in Oracle AI Database with annotations
ALTER TABLE ... ANNOTATIONS ( an1 'val1', an2 'val2' )
These are like comments but better
Want to convert existing comments to annotations?
Here's a script to do it blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-c...
Tables
Views
Columns
in Oracle AI Database with annotations
ALTER TABLE ... ANNOTATIONS ( an1 'val1', an2 'val2' )
These are like comments but better
Want to convert existing comments to annotations?
Here's a script to do it blogs.oracle.com/sql/how-to-c...
Reposted by Chris Saxon
🎉 We’re live! The #OracleACE Apprentice program is officially open—welcome to everyone who pre-registered (check your inbox soon!) and all new applicants.
Ready to start your advocacy journey? Learn more & register here 👉
ace.oracle.com/apprentice
Ready to start your advocacy journey? Learn more & register here 👉
ace.oracle.com/apprentice
December 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
🎉 We’re live! The #OracleACE Apprentice program is officially open—welcome to everyone who pre-registered (check your inbox soon!) and all new applicants.
Ready to start your advocacy journey? Learn more & register here 👉
ace.oracle.com/apprentice
Ready to start your advocacy journey? Learn more & register here 👉
ace.oracle.com/apprentice