"With the advent of free software coming of age and the dawning of Open Source applications being a moving force in developement.. it seems that it is timely for database servers to go and be free as a bird could be... and guess what... Oracle has been set FREE"
Microsoft has SQL Server 2005 Express and MSDE as their free version, IBM has their DB2 Universal Express Edition.. and now finally Oracle has jumped into the bandwagon of free database servers with their Oracle Database 10g Express Edition (Oracle Database XE). This release is targeted for developers who want to test drive the capabilities of the Oracle platform. The free version of oracle's database can store up to 4GB of user data, use up to 1GB of memory, and is limited to use one CPU on the host machine.
Here's some information taken from the original FAQ Sheet
What is Oracle Database 10g Express Edition?
Oracle has announced an entry-level, small footprint starter database called Oracle Database 10g Express Edition (Oracle Database XE), which is:
• Free to download
• Free to develop & deploy
• Free to distribute (including ISVs)
Oracle Database XE is built using the same code base as Oracle Database 10g Release 2 product line—Standard Edition One, Standard Edition, and Enterprise Edition—and is available on 32-bit Windows and Linux platforms.
Who should use Oracle Database XE?
Oracle Database XE is the perfect choice for many different groups, including:
• Developers working on PHP, Java, .NET, and other applications that require a database
• DBAs who need a free starter database for training and deployment
• Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who want to embed an Oracle database in their application or product to extend customer value at no additional cost
• Educational institutions and students who need a free starter database for their curriculum.
Can I use Oracle Database XE for free development?
Yes. There are no database license costs associated with developing applications for Oracle Database XE which offers the complete integrated set of Oracle Database programming interfaces including:
• SQL, PL/SQL
• Java, C, and PHP
• Windows .Net
• Oracle HTML DB
• C++, ODBC, OLE DB
Can I use Oracle Database XE for free deployment?
Oracle Database XE is free for runtime usage with the following limitations:
• Supports up to 4GB of user data (in addition to Oracle system data)
• Single instance only of Oracle Database XE on any server
• May be installed on a multiple CPU server, but only executes on one processor in any server
• May be installed on a server with any amount of memory, but will only use up to 1GB RAM of available memory
Can I distribute Oracle Database XE?
Yes. Oracle Database XE can be freely distributed as a standalone database or as part of a third-party application or product, provided the criteria defined above is adhered to.
How do I manage Oracle Database XE?
Oracle Database XE comes complete with its own management browser interface to monitor database activity and manage database users, storage, and memory.
How do I get support for Oracle Database XE?
For registered users of Oracle Database XE, Oracle offers a free online community forum hosted and monitored by Oracle experts at oracle.com/technology/xe. All users should register to take advantage of this free resource.
How will I report challenges and successes with Oracle Database XE?
Users are encouraged to discuss challenges and successes in the free online community forum hosted and monitored by Oracle experts at oracle.com/technology/xe so that the Oracle Database XE development team can respond.
Which platforms does Oracle Database XE support?
Oracle Database XE is available for 32-bit Linux and Windows operating systems.
How do developers benefit from Oracle Database XE?
Developers can utilize the industry’s leading database technology completely free of charge, and have complete choice of development environments including Java, PHP, and Windows .Net. Since Oracle Database XE is part of Oracle’s family of database editions, developers can scale systems as their computing needs grow.
How will ISVs benefit from Oracle Database XE?
With Oracle Database XE, ISVs have the industry’s leading database technology to power their applications. Distributing Oracle Database XE in their applications or products without additional cost offers even greater value to their customers. ISVs unfamiliar with Oracle Database have an opportunity to experience the technology, validate it with their applications, and freely distribute it—with zero risk and investment.
What if my usage exceeds Oracle Database XE criteria?
Oracle offers a choice of database editions to upgrade to. Depending on scale of application requirements, customers can easily upgrade to Standard Edition One, Standard Edition, or Enterprise Edition.
How do I migrate applications from Oracle Database XE to other Oracle Database editions?
Any application developed for Oracle Database XE will run completely unchanged with Oracle Database 10g Standard Edition One, Standard Edition, or Enterprise Edition; application development investment is guaranteed.
Where can I get my free copy of Oracle Database XE?
Oracle Database XE can be downloaded from the Oracle Technology Network oracle.com/technology/xe
Where can I get more information about Oracle Database XE?
For general information, visit oracle.com/database/xe.html. ISVs should visit the Oracle PartnerNetwork oraclepartnernetwork.oracle.com.
This move by Oracle levels the playing field between the 3 database giants which i think would be interesting for consumers and developers alike.