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  • Identify driver details of your cloud VM’s block devices

    While preparing a presentation for POUG 2025 I had a need to find out more about the block device driver in use on my system. I was particularly interested in the SCSI mid-layer and low-layer drivers. Unsure about these terms? I am referring to the Linux Storage Stack Diagram. It’s a great resource for anyone…

  • Why does my call to json_table return null for a column despite it not being empty?

    I recently worked on a fun project involving JSON and Oracle Database 23ai. I had to store rather large JSON documents, individual field lengths exceeding what I usually see. No problem with that, the database didn’t even so much as flinch. However, when I queried the table I used to store the JSON documents using…

  • Group-by-all is awesome for digging in performance data

    Oracle Database 23ai Release Update 9 introduces yet another new feature aimed at improving the developer experience with the database: group by all. Just like the new select without from dual clause this might not sound like a big deal, but after a little while working with it, you don’t really want to miss it…

  • What’s new with MLE 23.9 – no need to grant execute on javascript

    Oracle Database 23ai introduces In-Database JavaScript for Linux x86-64 and aarch64. That’s Linux on Intel and Arm, respectively. Developers with a preference for Typescript can use it alternatively after transpilation to JavaScript. JavaScript support in Oracle Database is known as Multilingual Engine, or MLE for short. Oracle Database 23ai Release Update 9 does away with…

  • Troubleshooting errors in ORDS container image entrypoint

    I’m a huge fan of Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) and use it extensively. I’m also very fond of the official container image, significantly simplifying the way I work with ORDS. The best thing is: I don’t need to concern myself with the REST and APEX installation – the image is clever enough to do…

  • Sourcing environment variables from .env in compose

    I am a great fan of {podman,docker}-compose. Using compose I can whip up environments in no time, define dependencies, and do a lot of cool stuff I otherwise would have to script in Ansible or other tools. I really like developing software, tools and other things locally before showing them to the world. Using compose…

  • LiveSQL supports MLE/JavaScript 🎉

    Oracle LiveSQL allows you to learn and share SQL, for free. You get instant access to the Oracle Database and learn from a collection of community scripts and tutorials. You can write your own SQL scripts and easily share them with others. All you need to get started is your Oracle.com account.No need to deal with…

  • Better support for JavaScript’s console.log() in ORDS handlers

    Oracle released Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS) 25.2 recently, in other words it’s time for me to upgrade. The release highlights have been summarised elsewhere, so I won’t do that again. Please head over to Chris Hoina’s blog post for all the details. One thing in particular I would like to point out though is…

  • Thementage 2025: CI/CD demo part 2

    The first part of this mini-series dealt with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery in the context of database applications. More specifically how to use the SQLcl (Oracle SQL Developer Command Linx) project command to create and move an APEX app from development to production. This article consists of 2 parts: Part 1: https://martincarstenbach.com/2025/06/25/thementage-2025-ci-cd-demo-part-1/ Part 2: https://martincarstenbach.com/2025/06/26/thementage-2025-ci-cd-demo-part-2/ Recap…

  • Thementage 2025: CI/CD demo part 1

    I am, and have been, an admirer of Andrea Held’s conferences, both IT Tage in Frankfurt in December, and more recently its online edition, Thementage Remote. I had the great privilege to be part of both of them. This article consists of 2 parts: Part 1: https://martincarstenbach.com/2025/06/25/thementage-2025-ci-cd-demo-part-1/ Part 2: https://martincarstenbach.com/2025/06/26/thementage-2025-ci-cd-demo-part-2/ My most recent presentation was…