Oracle software

[stricknyn]

Hi guys,

In terms a enterprise level databases I've pretty much got all my experience on SQL Server 7-2008 via work and books. I started grad school recently and this program seems to be heavy Oracle. My school has a MSDN Academic license so I can get MS development products for free to play around with but not Oracle.

I know the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition is the solution for SQL Server that has everything I need. Since i'm a student, I found where I can get software elsewhere at a discount price and I'm trying to get a hold of the equivalent for Oracle. I found VTC Oracle 10g but I'm not sure if that the full software software suite. Can someone confirm what I should be looking for?

I want to get a handle on Oracle and also start developing some .NET apps against an oracle DB for fun and practice. I have a personal server at home that I can install it on.

Thanks,

Strick

[kleinma]

Just like MS has SQL Server Express, Oracle has Oracle Express, which is free.

http://www.oracle.com/technology/pro.../xe/index.html

You probably are mostly interested at this point in using a database primarily as a relational data store, so I think it would do everything you would need.

[GaryMazzone]

If Oracle hasn't shifted gears you are allowed to download in install the database server as a devloper or student. You just can't have live data (production) in it.

[gep13]

If Oracle hasn't shifted gears you are allowed to download in install the database server as a devloper or student. You just can't have live data (production) in it.

Hey,

This would be my understanding as well. You can download just about everything from the Oracle website (once you have registered with it) and from there, as long as you aren't using it for commercial purposes, you can use the products.

Gary

EDIT: Oh, and in terms of programming against Oracle, you might want to take a look at the following:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/tec...net/index.html