Install SQL Developer

Oracle SQL Developer is a free, integrated development environment that simplifies the development and management of Oracle Database in both traditional and Cloud deployments.

About SQL Developer

Oracle SQL Developer is a graphical version of SQL*Plus that gives database developers a convenient way to perform basic tasks. You can browse, create, edit, and delete (drop); run SQL statements and scripts; edit and debug PL/SQL code; manipulate and export (unload) data; and view and create reports.

You can connect to any target Oracle Database schema using standard Oracle Database authentication. Once connected, you can perform operations on objects in the database.

You can connect to schemas for MySQL and selected third-party (non-Oracle) databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase Adaptive Server, and IBM DB2, and view metadata and data in these databases; and you can migrate these databases to Oracle Database.

Install and Get Started with SQL Developer

To install and start SQL Developer, download a ZIP file and unzip it into the desired parent directory on your system or folder and then type a command or double-click a file name.

If Oracle Database (Release 11 or later) is also installed, a version of SQL Developer is also included and is accessible through the menu system under Oracle. This version of SQL Developer is separate from any SQL Developer kit that you download and unzip on your own, so do not confuse the two, and do not unzip a kit over the SQL Developer files that are included with Oracle Database.

Tip:

Create a shortcut for the SQL Developer executable file that you install, and use it to start SQL Developer.

1. Unzip the SQL Developer kit into a folder (directory) of your choice, which will be referred to as <sqldeveloper_install>. Unzipping the SQL Developer kit causes a folder named sqldeveloper to be created under the <sqldeveloper_install> folder.

   For example, if you unzip the kit into C:\, the folder C:\sqldeveloper is created, along with several sub-folders under it.

2. To start SQL Developer, go to the sqldeveloper directory under the <sqldeveloper_install> directory, and do one of the following:

   On Linux and Mac OS X systems, run sh sqldeveloper.sh.

   On Windows systems, double-click sqldeveloper.exe.

   If you are asked to enter the full pathname for the JDK, click Browse and find it. For example, on a Windows system the path might have a name similar to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_51. (If you cannot start SQL Developer, it could be due to an error in specifying or configuring the JDK.)

3. Create at least one database connection (or import some previously exported connections), so that you can view and work with database objects, use the SQL Worksheet, and use other features.

   To create a new database connection:

   1. Right-click the Connections node in the Connections navigator
   2. Select New Connection, and complete the required entries in the Create/Edit/Select Database Connection dialog box. (You may also be able to generate connections automatically by right-clicking the Connections node and selecting Create Local Connections.)