How to Use Oracle Free Edition in PostgreSQL

Is Oracle Database free?

Oracle Database offers free options—XE and Cloud Free Tier—that are cost-free for development and small workloads under strict limits.

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Description

Is Oracle Database completely free?

Oracle is not entirely free. Only Oracle Database Express Edition (XE) and the Oracle Cloud Always Free Tier cost nothing. Enterprise and Standard Editions require paid licenses.

What does Oracle Database Express Edition (XE) include?

XE is a single-instance database capped at 2 CPUs, 2 GB RAM, and 12 GB of user data. It ships with most core SQL, PL/SQL, JSON, and spatial features but excludes options such as Partitioning and Advanced Security.

How do I create e-commerce tables in Oracle XE?

After installing XE, connect as a normal user and run the DDL shown in the Syntax section. XE enforces the same SQL standard syntax you would use in paid editions, making migration straightforward.

What is the Oracle Cloud Free Tier?

The Always Free Tier provides two Autonomous Database instances (ATP or ADW) with 1 OCPU, 20 GB storage, and limited networking. It is ideal for prototypes and demos.

When should I pick PostgreSQL instead?

Choose PostgreSQL when you need unlimited database size, an OSI-approved license, or extensions like PostGIS without vendor lock-in. Select Oracle XE when you specifically test Oracle-only features.

How to migrate from Oracle XE to PostgreSQL?

Use ora2pg or Foreign Data Wrappers (oracle_fdw) to extract DDL and data. Create matching tables in PostgreSQL, run COPY commands, and validate row counts.

Best practices for running Oracle XE

Monitor v$parameter for SGA and PGA usage, schedule daily exports with Data Pump, and keep data volume below 12 GB. Upgrade to paid editions before hitting limits.

Why How to Use Oracle Free Edition in PostgreSQL is important

How to Use Oracle Free Edition in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- List the 10 most recent orders with customer and total
SELECT c.name,
       o.id            AS order_id,
       o.total_amount,
       o.order_date
FROM   Customers c
JOIN   Orders    o ON o.customer_id = c.id
ORDER  BY o.order_date DESC
FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS ONLY;

How to Use Oracle Free Edition in PostgreSQL Syntax


-- Create an Oracle XE schema for an e-commerce example
CREATE USER ecommerce IDENTIFIED BY "Secure#2024";
GRANT CONNECT, RESOURCE TO ecommerce;
ALTER USER ecommerce QUOTA UNLIMITED ON USERS;

-- Customers table
CREATE TABLE Customers (
  id          NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
  name        VARCHAR2(100),
  email       VARCHAR2(255) UNIQUE,
  created_at  DATE DEFAULT SYSDATE
);

-- Products table
CREATE TABLE Products (
  id     NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
  name   VARCHAR2(150),
  price  NUMBER(10,2),
  stock  NUMBER
);

-- Orders table
CREATE TABLE Orders (
  id           NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
  customer_id  NUMBER REFERENCES Customers(id),
  order_date   DATE DEFAULT SYSDATE,
  total_amount NUMBER(12,2)
);

-- OrderItems table
CREATE TABLE OrderItems (
  id         NUMBER GENERATED BY DEFAULT AS IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
  order_id   NUMBER REFERENCES Orders(id),
  product_id NUMBER REFERENCES Products(id),
  quantity   NUMBER
);

Common Mistakes

Assuming all Oracle editions are free. Only XE and the Cloud Always Free Tier cost nothing; Enterprise and Standard Editions require licenses. Always verify edition, environment, and Oracle Software License Agreement.
Ignoring XE resource caps (2 CPUs, 2 GB RAM, 12 GB data) and deploying critical workloads. Exceeding limits can cause performance issues or forced upgrades. Monitor usage and plan capacity early.