[cx-oracle-users] Open Source Python Thin Driver for Oracle Database

[Christopher J. <chr...@or...>]

A new, major Python cx_Oracle driver release for Oracle Database is available and comes with a brand new name: python-oracledb.

The python-oracledb driver is now 'Thin' by default, making it easier (and faster) to install and use.

See the release announcement https://cjones-oracle.medium.com/open-source-python-thin-driver-for-oracle-database-e82aac7ecf5a for detail

There are new URLs:

   - Repo: https://github.com/oracle/python-oracledb

   - PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/oracledb/

   - Discussion, which had naturally been migrating for a long time from this mail list to the cx_Oracle GitHub repo, can now be done at 
https://github.com/oracle/python-oracledb/discussions

"Need to Know":

   - 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 (including Python package dependencies): pip install oracledb

   - Python-oracledb is now a Thin driver by default - it connects directly to Oracle Database without always needing Oracle Client libraries

   - 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).

   - 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.

   - SQLAlchemy, Pandas, Django and other frameworks and libraries can immediately start testing python-oracledb in Thin or Thick mode by adding 
several lines of code. This won’t be necessary in future when framework and ORM maintainers add equivalent code to use the new namespace.  Note that 
some functionality like dead-connection-detection may not work until the maintainers add support.

-- 
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