This file does absolutely nothing.

Now since I obviously didn't have anything else better to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I thought I'd share something I found while upgrading by 11gR2 database with Apex4.0.

Now, I have to give credit to Tyler Muth, whom put his name to this script that gave me a slight chuckle.

Now, unlike in that photo of Tyler, it's not snowing in our Perth winter, it never does - but last night it got a little chilly.

Anyway, don't ask but I stumbled on a file in the core folder of apex - null1.sql

The bit that made me chuckle was the comment

Rem    DESCRIPTION
Rem      This file does absolutely nothing.  It is simply a file that can be run when different scripts are conditionally run
Rem      and the desired effect of a condition is for nothing to happen.

After looking through seeing where it was used, I can see what a useful little catalyst it must be. I found one reference on OTN. But I wonder what the thought was around the table when they reviewed the need for that file.

Or should I go back outside ;-)