Low-Budget Oracle APEX Installation

I want to dive into Oracle APEX for personal learning, so the goal is a clean, working install of the latest APEX release without running up costs. I’m not sure whether my current environment is ready for it, so part of the task is confirming—or, if needed, creating—a suitable Oracle database (XE, a lightweight Docker image, or an Oracle Cloud Free Tier instance all work for me as long as they stay cost-free).

Once the database piece is settled, I’ll need the newest APEX version installed, configured, and reachable in a browser. Please add a simple workspace, an admin login, and a short checklist of what you did so I can reproduce the setup or tear it down and redo it later for practice.

Deliverables
• Database confirmed or installed and running
• Latest Oracle APEX fully configured and accessible
• One workspace plus admin credentials
• Step-by-step notes (commands, links, tips) so I can repeat the process on my own

If you’re used to tools like SQL*Plus, SQLcl, Oracle REST Data Services (ORDS), or Docker, feel free to bring them into the workflow—the simpler and cheaper the path, the better.