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dbasim — learn to fix Oracle from real incidents

dbasim plants a "the database is broken" incident in Oracle Database Free on your own computer. A simulated app keeps using it the whole time. You find the cause, fix it, and dbasim checks whether your fix really worked.

⚠️ dbasim creates and drops users and tablespaces in the database it points at. Only use it with Oracle Free on your own machine. It refuses to run against anything that is not Free and never drops a SHOP user it did not create.

Requirements

  • Docker (on Windows: Docker Desktop + WSL2)
  • About 3GB free RAM and 10GB free disk
  • Python 3.9 or newer

1. Start Oracle Database Free

docker run -d --name dbasim-oracle -p 1521:1521 \
  -e ORACLE_PWD=ChangeMe123 \
  container-registry.oracle.com/database/free:latest

docker logs -f dbasim-oracle   # wait for DATABASE IS READY TO USE!

Downloading and using Oracle Database Free is governed by the Oracle Free Use Terms and Conditions, between you and Oracle.

2. Install dbasim

pip install dbasim

3. Configure

export DBASIM_ADMIN_PASSWORD=ChangeMe123          # Windows PowerShell: $env:DBASIM_ADMIN_PASSWORD="ChangeMe123"
export DBASIM_DSN=localhost:1521/FREEPDB1           # default
export DBASIM_SCALE=0.3                             # smaller data for slow machines
dbasim doctor

4. Play

Command What it does
dbasim list List scenarios and your scores
dbasim start s01 Start a scenario (plants the problem + starts the simulated app)
dbasim logs Read the app's log, like when a ticket comes in
dbasim status Time spent, score, and the password of user SHOP
dbasim hint Get a hint (-15 points each)
dbasim check Check your fix; once solved you see a senior DBA's write-up
dbasim solution --yes Give up and see the solution (0 points)
dbasim reset Remove everything dbasim created and undo settings the scenarios invite you to change

Use any tool you like: SQL*Plus, SQLcl, SQL Developer, connected as SYSTEM to FREEPDB1. Every scenario can be solved with what Oracle Free ships (v$ views, DBMS_XPLAN, trace). No AWR/ASH needed.

Scenarios

ID Scenario Level Plan
s01 Order search page is slow Easy Free
s02 Month-end report slow after data migration Easy Free
s03 The nightly batch fails every night Easy Free
s04 Payment entry screen hangs Medium Pro (coming soon)
s05 CPU spikes after a new app release Medium Pro (coming soon)

The first three scenarios are free forever: no sign-up and no licence key. Pro scenarios are not on sale yet (coming soon). Watch this repository to hear when they launch.

Found a problem, or want to suggest a scenario? Open an issue at https://github.com/kulchartt/oracledbasim/issues

Metadata

Release files for dbasim 0.3.4

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0.3.8

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0.3.6

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0.3.5

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0.3.4 This release

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