Welcome to my blog post series on Oracle's SQLcl, your go-to resource for this free command-line tool.

I'm mainly focused on APEX and PL/SQL, so the content here will be practical and developer-oriented. However, sometimes you will find some DBA stuff.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• The Basics: A quick start for anyone new to SQLcl

• SQLcl commands explained with real-life examples

• Honest Reviews: My take on each new SQLcl release and what those new features actually mean for you

What is SQLcl?

If you don't know what it is yet (no way you don't) :

• SQLcl is SQLcl Developer from the command line instead of the GUI

• First, the early-adopter version was mentioned around 2014/2015!

• People older than me used to call it SQL Plus ++ / SDSQL (source)

• It's a replacement for SQL Plus

• The latest version (at this moment) is 26.1.2

• It contains over 100 useful commands ( 109 according to the "help" command in 26.1.2)

• Official Oracle documentation is here

SQLcl series content menu

Basics

• SQLcl installation MacOS & Windows) -> link

• How to customise Oracle SQLcl look & feel and set parameters? -> link

Commands

Each time you need instant help with a specific command, you can type:

• help [command]

• help [command] [examples]

CODESCAN - a simple way to check the quality of PL/SQL code

• Is Your PL/SQL Code as Good as You Think? Scan it with SQLcl CODESCAN, please -> link

LIQUIBASE - tracking database changes has never been easier

• What is SQLcl Liquibase -> link

• Master SQLcl Liquibase series

  • Part 1 of 3: Move all database objects from DEV to the UAT environment -> link

  • Part 2 of 3: Track your DEV database changes and move it to UAT(or any other environment) -> link

  • Part 3 of 3: Synchronise your existing environments -> link

• SQLcl Liquibase - generate-schema enhanced. Capture only new changes since the provided date -> link

PROJECT - a CI/CD tool for APEX apps and database changes tracking

• SQLcl Project (It will forever change your Database & APEX deployments) -> link

• Oracle's SQLcl Project - the only CI/CD tool for APEX you will ever need -> link

SAVE - database connections

• Oracle SQLcl's new feature - SAVE connections. Finally, I can use it as often as I'm using SQL Developer -> link

SKILLS - a quick way to get /update AI Agents' Skills

• Coming soon!

New releases (honest reviews)

• Stay tuned for updates!

Other sources

• Coming soon!

PS The inspiration for this series came from my presentation called "Oracle SQLcl: The Free Tool Every PL/SQL and APEX Developer Needs", presented in 2026 at many conferences across the world (slides available on GitHub), e.g., APEX Alpe Adria, APEX World and ASCEND

PS2 Rockets in Kennedy Space Centre, I visited in 2026, right before the ASCEND conference.