AI-assisted development is changing how applications are built. With APEXlang, Oracle APEX 26.1 takes an important step toward this new workflow.

APEXlang is an open-source application specification language designed specifically for Oracle APEX. It provides a structured, human-readable way to define APEX applications, allowing developers and AI coding agents to generate, review, validate and evolve applications through source-controlled files.

Combining APEXlang with modern AI coding agents such as Codex and Claude Code enables a workflow in which natural-language instructions can become application features, pages and improvements with greater speed and consistency. The developer continues to work in a familiar environment such as Visual Studio Code while retaining full visibility and control over the application definition.

This article is part one of the two-part APEXlang GenDev series. Here, we cover the starting point for setting up a VS Code development environment and establish the path toward using APEXlang with AI coding agents.

The APEXlang GenDev series

  1. Part 1: Getting started with Oracle APEX development in VS Code — you are here.
  2. Part 2: From idea to application — creating and improving Oracle APEX apps with APEXlang skills.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

  • Oracle APEX 26.1
  • Visual Studio Code
  • An OpenAI account or API key if you use Codex
  • A Claude AI subscription if you use Claude Code

Step 1: Set up the IDE in VS Code

Install VS Code

Download and install Visual Studio Code for your operating system from the official website.

Create the project workspace

Create a project folder, for example APEX_APPS, and open it in VS Code:

File → Open Folder → APEX_APPS

This workspace will hold your APEXlang source files, application outputs and other project assets.

A note on AI-agent output: Application improvements are applied by an AI coding agent using APEXlang skills. Results may vary slightly depending on the agent, model version and application state. If a requested update is not implemented as expected or produces validation errors, make the instruction more precise, add context and use the error messages to iteratively correct the implementation.

Conclusion

APEXlang in Oracle APEX 26.1, combined with AI coding agents, brings application generation, review and evolution into a modern, controlled development workflow.

By combining VS Code, Codex or Claude Code, SQLcl and APEXlang skills, developers can generate or improve APEX applications from a connected database schema while keeping the application source readable, maintainable and friendly to version control.

This approach can accelerate delivery, reduce repetitive development work and move Oracle APEX development toward a more intuitive and scalable workflow. In part two, we will continue by creating and improving an application with APEXlang skills step by step.

Continue the series: Part 2, from idea to application — coming soon.