Application Development Platform — 16.4.3 is available

ANNOUNCING Application Development Platform 16.4.3 with updates and enhancements to Java Cloud Service, Application Container Cloud, Database Cloud Service, and an introduction to a new service, Exadata Express Cloud Service.
Java Cloud Service

Auto-scaling can now be configured in JCS to automatically scale a cluster in or out, based on CPU utilization, as explained in About Automatic Scaling in Using Oracle Java Cloud Service.
JCS can generate SSH keys and storage containers during service provisioning, so these prerequisites were removed from all Getting Started collateral (video, tutorial, etc).
When using AppToCloud to migrate an existing WebLogic Server domain, JMS and Java Mail resources are automatically captured from the source domain and imported into your Oracle Java Cloud Service instance. See Creating an Oracle Java Cloud Service Instance with AppToCloud in Using Oracle Java Cloud Service.
There are now two ways to access Chat for support. You can either use the Chat icon that appears at the top of the Oracle Cloud console to the left of the Preferences dropdown or you can click the Help icon (?) and, from the Help Drawer, select Chat with us.
A new Security chapter was added to Using Oracle Java Cloud Service.
A new Scaling tab was added in the JCS Help Center

Application Container Cloud

Non-metered subscriptions to Oracle Application Container Cloud Service can now be obtained, so billing doesn’t vary based on your application usage. See Overview of Oracle Cloud Subscriptions and Buying a Nonmetered Subscription to an Oracle Cloud Service in Getting Started with Oracle Cloud.
Node.js versions 4.4.7 and 6.3.1 are supported.

Database Cloud Service

Oracle Database 12c Release 2 (12.2) is now available for database deployments hosting a single-instance database or a Data Guard configuration. For information about this release of Oracle Database, see "What’s New in Oracle Database".
The July 2016 Bundle Patch (BP) is now integrated into the base images for new Database Cloud Service database deployments hosting an Oracle RAC database.
The 16.4.1.1 cloud tooling update can be applied to existing database deployments. This update also upgrades ORDS (Oracle REST Data Services) and requires special steps (see the instructions in "Updating the Cloud Tooling on Database Cloud Service" in Using Oracle Database Cloud Service) to avoid losing changes and additions you may have made to your existing ORDS environment.
The minimum OCPUs per node for Oracle RAC databases in subscription accounts has been reduced from four to two.
The DBCS Oracle Help Center (OHC) pages were updated to accommodate the 12.2 release and the availability of the 12.2 on-premise books from both the DBCS OHC page and from the Database OHC page.
http://docs-uat.us.oracle.com/cloud/latest/dbcs_dbaas/index.html lists What’s New in Database Cloud Service and What’s New in Oracle Database and also provides links to Books for Database Cloud Service and the Books for Oracle Database. Conversely, the on-premise Database OHC page at http://docs-uat.us.oracle.com/database/122/index.htm, provides links to Books for Oracle Database and Books for Database Cloud Service.
A new book, Database Licensing Information User Manual, was added in this release. This book contains an important section worth noting, Oracle Cloud Services for Oracle Database and Their Permitted Features.

Exadata Express Cloud Service
The recently-launched Oracle Database Exadata Express Cloud Service will be included in future announcement messages. Exadata Express provides a low-cost, entry-level Oracle Database running on Exadata in Oracle Cloud. Developer benefits include a standard SQL interface, RESTful Web Services, documents and collections interfaces, drivers for popular programming languages, integrated Application Express (APEX) for rapid application development, and a range of free client tools and IDEs.

Events & Assets
Oracle Code
Oracle Code is being planned as a 20-city 7-month long event for developers, who build modern Web, mobile, enterprise, and cloud-native applications. Oracle Code will focus on the latest software developer technologies, practices and trends, including containers, microservices, API First applications, chatbots, AI, and machine learning, and DevOps tools and practices. Educational sessions for developing software in Java, Node.js, and other languages using Oracle Database, MySQL, and NoSQL databases will be included.

Blogs

Using Developer Cloud Service to build and deploy a Nodejs REST project on Application Container Cloud
Abhinav Shroff explains the essentials for building and maintaining Nodejs projects on Developer Cloud Service and shows how to deploy a simple Nodejs based REST service project to Application Container Cloud from Developer Cloud Service.
Testing with JUnit and Oracle and Developer Cloud Service
Abhishek Gupta explains how to include unit testing as part of your build process and shows how to view the results in your dashboard.