Want to start developing web applications with Oracle Application Express? Make sure you don’t reinvent the wheel and adopt best practices from industry experts right from the start.

Here are some tips for beginners:

1. If you don’t already have APEX installed, don’t install it yourself, but get a free workspace within minutes on apex.oracle.com. This fully managed environment can even be used for tiny non-critical productive apps.

2. Start making your first apps using our APEX tutorial (German) or from Oracle (English):
https://apex.mt-ag.com/development (includes best practices!)
https://apex.oracle.com/en/learn/tutorials

3. Install and explore all prebuilt Apps from the App Gallery in the APEX builder

4. Watch some great videos about APEX on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/doagtv/search?query=APEX

5. Read some great books for in-depth information and for reference:
Oracle APEX: das umfassende Handbuch (German)
Oracle PL/SQL Programming
JavaScript & jQuery: The missing manual

6. Go through “some” slides:
bit.ly/doagarchive
knowledgebase.mt-ag.com

7. Hear some podcasts to get acquainted with some APEX experts:
apex.press/talkshow

8. Engage with the APEX community online:
apex.world
apex.oracle.com/forum
twitter.com/search?q=orclapex
Follow various blogs using your favorite RSS client

9. Meet APEX developers personally at regional conferences:
ODTUG Kscope (USA/Canada)
DOAG APEX Connect (Germany)
NLOUG APEX World (Benelux)
APEX AlpeAdria (Slovenia/Croatia/Austria)
DOAG Conference (Germany)

10. Stay in touch with APEX developers personally between the conferences:
APEX Meetup Groups

11. Gain/share more best practices:
PL/SQL: github.com/doag

If you are starting with APEX, but don’t have any clue about what a database is, I suggest you have a look here: http://allthingsoracle.com/oracle-for-absolute-beginners-part-1-databases

Please write your comments if you need any clarifications on Oracle Apex.

Thanks to Niels de Bruijn