New major cx_Oracle release has a new name and repo: python-oracledb

[cjbj]

A new, major Python cx_Oracle driver release is available and comes with a brand new name: python-oracledb. It is now a 'Thin' driver by default, with an optional 'Thick' mode giving the full functionality of cx_Oracle.

See the release announcement.

The updated code is in a new repository github.com/oracle/python-oracledb

You have all successfully navigated major cx_Oracle releases before, and this release is no different: there are great new features, a few small changes, and a few deprecations.

Interesting Stuff

• Python-oracledb is the new name for our popular Python cx_Oracle driver for Oracle Database

• Python-oracledb 1.0 is a new major release - the successor to cx_Oracle 8.3

• Python-oracledb is simple and small to install — under 15 MB

• Python-oracledb is now a Thin driver by default - it connects directly to Oracle Database

• Python-oracledb doesn’t need Oracle Client libraries by default - you can use it on many platforms, even when Oracle Client libraries are unavailable.

• Python-oracledb has comprehensive functionality conforming to the Python Database API v2.0 Specification, with many additions and just a couple of exclusions.

• A “Thick” mode can be optionally enabled by an application call. This mode has similar functionality to cx_Oracle and supports Oracle Database features that extend the Python DB API. To use this mode, the widely used and tested Oracle Client libraries such as from Oracle Instant Client must be installed separately.

• Python-oracledb runs on many platforms including favorites like Linux, macOS and Windows. It can also be used on platforms where Oracle Client libraries are not available (such as Apple M1, Alpine Linux, or IoT devices), or where the client libraries are not easily installed (such as some cloud environments).

cx_Oracle ?

Under the cx_Oracle namespace, bug fix releases and binary packages to support new Python versions will continue for a limited time, circa two years. A final sunset date will be decided later, depending on feedback from you. We know many of you have large code bases that you will want to evaluate with the upgraded driver before moving to it. Or you might choose to use python-oracledb only for new projects. Support for any particularly critical new Oracle Database features may also possibly land in cx_Oracle, but nothing is on the radar.

Many thanks to all our Python driver users and contributors over the decades that the driver has existed. I'm sure you will continue to enjoy the driver as it evolves.

[lemenkov]

Great work, thanks!

[jonahharris]

Thank you for the hard work, all; you're awesome! I can't wait to see similar work for the other Oracle-supported languages.