"Navigating the Oracle APEX Frontier: A Transformative PhD Expedition"

My five-year journey of pursuing a Ph.D. in Oracle APEX has been filled with both challenges and invaluable learning experiences. I decided to write this blog to share my insights and to help those who are considering a Ph.D. and are in search of a compelling research topic.

 

Where did the idea come from? It all started with a simple Online Test Application on a Local Area Network (LAN) using Oracle APEX .

The idea of pursuing a Ph.D. in Oracle APEX first came to me in 2011-12.During that time, I developed an application to conduct online MCQ tests for students, designed to run on the LAN. Using a standard computer with minimal configuration, I installed Oracle APEX and set up the application so that students could access the MCQ test on the intranet, allowing us to generate results instantly.

 

Upon testing the application with a class of 60 students, I witnessed seamless functionality, with every student accessing data effortlessly. This encounter highlighted the remarkable performance of Oracle APEX compared to other technologies. However, translating this observation into a Ph.D. topic proved to be a formidable task, requiring two years to formulate a suitable title.

Meanwhile, in 2014, I commenced my journey towards a Ph.D. In preparation, I pursued certification in Oracle SQL, achieving the esteemed title of SQL Certified Expert before embarking on my doctoral pursuit.

To pursue a Ph.D. or not… Do I have a choice? No i have to do it as i'm connected with Academic Field is well.

Given my academic career, the answer was clear: I had to pursue my Ph.D. for both personal and professional growth. In 2014, I embarked on my doctoral journey with the title, “Performance Evaluation of Development Platform Architecture and Implementation of ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) and VCS (Version Control System).”

During my initial literature review, I delved into the architecture of Oracle APEX, exploring its internal views and tables. For my performance evaluation, I chose to compare Oracle APEX with .NET and PHP technologies using various parameters.

  Was writing a research paper easy? 

Absolutely not. It was my first time undertaking such a task, but with guidance from Dr. Priya Swaminarayan, I learned the ropes of research paper writing. After the literature review, I needed a testing tool to evaluate the performance of the technologies. After exploring several open-source options, I settled on Apache JMeter. My initial plan involved testing the performance of all three technologies on a local computer with minimal configuration. I tested each technology using different parameters and recorded the results.

To expand the scope of my research, I set up a LAN with two PCs and conducted the same performance evaluations, recording the results. Initially, I tested with a minimal virtual user load ranging from 10 to 500. However, during the RDC, the committee suggested enhancing the performance evaluation by moving to the cloud. This expansion provided a wealth of data and reports, significantly enriching my research findings.

Throughout my Ph.D., Mr. Jaydipsinh Raulji was my go-to expert for technical issues related to Oracle APEX. His assistance was invaluable, especially when I encountered a challenge involving the underlying views of Oracle APEX. On his advice, I reached out to Joel Kallman for help. Joel responded promptly, enabling me to continue my work seamlessly.

In 2018, I began attending events organized by AIOUG (All India Oracle User Group) and Oracle's Odev Yatra. These events provided opportunities to meet distinguished speakers like Chaitanya Koratamaddi, Connor McDonald, Satyendra Pasalapudi, Sandesh Rao, and Basheer Khan. I primarily attended for the Oracle APEX sessions, which offered advanced insights into the technology. During these events, I had the chance to discuss numerous aspects of Oracle APEX with Mr. Chaitanya Koratamaddi, gaining further valuable knowledge.

Meet Chaitanya Koratamaddi at Odev Yatra

Attending Sessions of  Chaitanya Koratamaddi with my Students

Meet Sandesh Rao at Odev Yatra

   

Meet Satyendra Pasalapudi at Tech-Day

  

 

Meet Connor McDonald at AIOUG Event

Get APEX Sticker from Chaitanya at AIOUG Event.

APEX Signature in Chaitanya's Session at AIOUG

Is pursuing a Ph.D. just about earning a degree? Certainly not. Throughout my Ph.D. journey, I have delved into numerous new aspects of Oracle APEX, connecting with experts from across India and around the world. Gradually, my work on Oracle APEX has opened doors to incredible opportunities.

While pursuing my Ph.D., I began conducting webinars and workshops at various colleges and universities to raise awareness about the incredible potential of Oracle APEX among undergraduate and postgraduate students. My goal was to inspire them to build their careers using this remarkable technology.

In addition, I launched a dedicated YouTube channel for Oracle APEX, where I have uploaded over 50 videos and garnered 1.24k subscribers. Check out my channel through the following link: YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/c/UpSkillXperts

So Following are some glimpse of the events on Oracle APEX which was conducted while i pursue my PhD.

Started in the end of 2014 i have conducted an Webinar at NVPAS College. First event title was " Oracle APEX- A Rapid Application Development Tool and Unity Game Engine".

Oracle APEX Session at NVPAS College December - 2014

  In January 2015, I was honored to be invited to deliver a session on Oracle APEX at Rai University in Ahmedabad.  

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Oracle APEX Session at Rai University, Ahmedabad January - 2015

       In June 2016 and August 2018, I had the privilege of being invited to deliver guest lectures on "Oracle APEX" at Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya in Gandhinagar.

 

Oracle APEX Session at Kadi University,Gandhinagar August- 2018

  During that time, the RDC Committee suggested using Amazon Cloud to conduct performance evaluation tests. Following their advice, I installed each technology on my Amazon Cloud account, evaluated their performance, and meticulously recorded the results. This endeavor yielded a plethora of reports and data, enabling me to showcase the performance evaluation of the selected technologies comprehensively. These findings were instrumental in completing my thesis, providing ample data and comparative study reports.

Throughout my Ph.D. journey, I published seven research papers in various journals and presented my research work at three conferences. 

Finally, in 2019, I successfully defended my Ph.D. thesis, marking the culmination of my doctoral journey.

What did I gain from researching Oracle APEX technology from 2014 to 2019? Well, since 2020, the fruits of my labor have been ripening one by one.

 Even a fter completion of my PhD i have never stop conducting events  on Oracle APEX Technology.

Have organized and conducted Oracle APEX Session at NVPAS College, Sardar Patel University.

Oracle APEX Session at NVPAS College, Sardar Patel University, V.V.Nagar

     During this time, one of the most rewarding experiences was discovering the INOAUG (India Oracle APEX User Group), where I had the privilege of engaging with notable figures like Chaitanya Koratamaddi, Senior Principal Product Manager, and Richard Dalvi, President of INOAUG.

I was fortunate to be given the platform to present my research work at the 3rd Annual APEX Conference, and collaborating with INOAUG was truly exciting. Through this group, I learned that I was the first person to complete a Ph.D. on Oracle APEX, which was a significant milestone.

3rd Annual APEX Conference, Chennai INDIA

In 2020, new opportunities unfolded as I secured a position on the Board of the India Oracle APEX User Group as a Regional Leader. This role served as a significant boost, motivating me to expand the reach of Oracle APEX technology in my region on a larger scale. I initiated efforts to achieve this by organizing international events at various colleges and universities, aiming to spread awareness and foster interest in Oracle APEX within the community.

 

      In that same year, I was also honored to receive the APEX Challenge coin, becoming the first person in India to achieve this recognition. I learned about this milestone from Mr. Richard Dalvi, the president of the INOAUG Group, and I felt immensely proud to be recognized in this way.

In 2020, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting seminars for students in physical settings became increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, I persevered and found innovative ways to transition them online, recognizing the novelty of this approach for students accustomed to attending lectures and webinars in person. By the end of the year, I successfully organized the first virtual webinar—an International Event on Oracle APEX at NVPAS College, CVM University.

In early 2021, despite the ongoing pandemic, I persisted in conducting webinars online. With my newfound position on the board of INOAUG, I received continuous support for organizing events in my region. In February 2021, I was invited to deliver a session on "Oracle APEX" at Parul University.

Just a month later, I facilitated an International Webinar in collaboration with OracleAPEXConsultant and INOAUG at Parul University. This rapid succession of events underscored the importance of leveraging virtual platforms to continue spreading knowledge and fostering connections within the Oracle APEX community.  

Third webinar on "Oracle APEX" in the year 2021 was delivered at Kadi University. 

Forth event of 2021 was an International Event at Ganpat University. 

And the journey continues. Throughout my Ph.D., I encountered numerous challenges, but now, upon its completion, I am reaping the rewards. Working with a technology like Oracle APEX has proven to be immensely gratifying, offering abundant returns for the time invested.

Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. in Oracle APEX has enriched my life in countless ways. It has provided me with opportunities to connect with industry leaders and to introduce this incredible technology to students in my region. My association with Oracle APEX spans over a decade, beginning with version 3.1 in 2009 and continuing to the present version, 21.1. It has truly been an extraordinary journey.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events and updates as the Oracle APEX saga unfolds.

 

 

Have a Happy Learning

Regards

Digvijaysinh Virpura

 

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