APEX: here to build a better app

  • Posted: Monday, April 27, 2026, 8:47 am

Four individuals stand close together, look up at the camera. First person is close to the camera, wearing a black top and dark-rimmed glasses, hand open, palm up toward the camera.; shoulder length black hair with copper face-framing highlights. Second person is on the left, wearing a black long-sleeved top and glasses, translucent frames. Dark brown hair down to the upper torse, and left arm bent, fingers on arm of glasses as though adjusting them. Third person on left side of photo is wearing a dark tan

Tech, tools, and talent - three components comprising a stellar IT division. Within lies a myriad of groups, each significantly supporting mission success in their own unique IT way. One such team uses a program designed to make everyone's life a little easier. This is Oracle Application Express, also known as APEX.

APEX is a software tool used to rapidly build and develop applications (apps). Compared to traditional development platforms, APEX is low-code, meaning users, such as members of the Pantex APEX team, are able to create apps with minimal coding, using visual interfaces and pre-built components. Still confused?

"Traditional development is like building a treehouse from scratch," Software Engineer Jon Jones said. "You have to design it, measure and cut the wood, and gather hardware, not to mention assemble all of it. With APEX, think of it like a Lego set. You have all the appropriate pieces and just need to put it together."

Building apps with APEX is a little more complicated than snapping plastic blocks together and requires some related skills. However, the point is that there is ease in the execution as compared to traditional methods, and with that ease comes benefits.

"APEX helps businesses create useful web apps much faster than traditional methods, saving valuable time and resources," Jones said. "It also ensures these apps are secure, reliable, and work efficiently with existing data."

Pantexans have swiftly adopted this revolutionary application-build method, as several significant and currently in-use projects used APEX. Major apps include the Dose Records Information System (DRIS), the facility e-logbook, and APEX pay inside all Pantex Pantries; however, service with a smile does not stop at successful deployment.

“After we build an app, our team remains actively involved by ensuring it runs smoothly, fixing any issues and adding new features as your business grows," Jones said. "Customers can count on us for ongoing support and a partnership approach to keep their application effective and up-to-date.”

Before you reach out to the APEX team, you need to consider some things to determine if their services could benefit you.

"Ask yourself about what's working and what's not, and what do you want to see changed," Jones said. "Dream big. Really think hard about what could make your day-to-day or other operations more efficient and effective. We will do our best to make those dreams come true."

If you have a request, you can submit an IT Project Request through the Service Catalog. On the form, please provide information such as a description of your needs, cost benefit, funding source, and safety and security impacts. The more details you provide, the better. Once you submit the request, the APEX team will contact you to discuss the project.

"We want to understand the struggles with their current solution and how we can help," Jones said. "If we think the project is a good candidate, the application will go on our backlog to get started on as soon as we can."