Getting started (and "playing around") with PL/SQL (and SQL (and Oracle Database))

Got this email Monday from a fellow new to PL/SQL and Oracle:

I have been in I.T. for a couple of years but always had this feeling that I could do better. I lost that hunger when the company I had worked for 10 years plucked me from the warehouse as a kind of internal promotion program. I guess you could say I slowly settled into a rut.  

I discovered your site recently and I am in the process of reviewing your tutorial videos (I have also started to read newer technical books). I am sure you have been told before but your tutorial videos are great!  

My problem is that I think the lessons would "stick" with me more if I had the chance to work with them and "play" around. 

I have very low self esteem (which I am also working on) so please don't laugh but is there a place that I can download a condensed or tutorial version of Oracle 11g?

First, I am always excited to hear from people who are just getting into Oracle Database, SQL and PL/SQL. Our part of the technology stack is "way down there" and often gets less attention these days. So my first response is always:

Welcome to my world! And it is a rather big, rich and supportive world. There are tens of thousands of experts in Oracle Database, all around the world, many of them eager to help and share their knowledge.

So many websites to visit and learn from, including:

Ask Tom - answers from a few of the biggest Oracle Database brains in the world

Oracle Technology Network, especially the forums - Oracle's own hosted community ecosystem

StackOverflow - Oracle Database questions are just a tiny part of the overall torrent at SO

PL/SQL Challenge - quizzes on SQL, PL/SQL, Database Design and more!

But Robert, who wrote the above message, wasn't just looking for sources of information. He wants to be able to play around with the technology - hands-on. Good idea, Robert! Reading, watching, etc. can never replace what you learn by actually writing some code.

These days, Oracle makes it really, REALLY easy to play around with SQL and PL/SQL. Just go to LiveSQL and get started!


LiveSQL offers several pre-defined schemas with data (and more to come soon!), tutorials and lots of scripts contributed by experts around the world.

If you want a more full-blown interaction with Oracle Database, well, hey, you can download a VM of Oracle Database 12c Release 1, with a whole bunch of tools, all for free!