Thursday, April 30, 2009

What is SQLite ?

SQLite is a software library that implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine. SQLite is the most widely deployed SQL database engine in the world. The source code for SQLite is in the public domain.

SQLite Features:

  • Transactions are atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable (ACID) even after system crashes and power failures.
  • Zero-configuration - no setup or administration needed.
  • Implements most of SQL92. (Features not supported)
  • A complete database is stored in a single cross-platform disk file.
  • Supports terabyte-sized databases and gigabyte-sized strings and blobs. (See limits.html.)
  • Small code footprint: less than 300KiB fully configured or less than 180KiB with optional features omitted.
  • Faster than popular client/server database engines for most common operations.
  • Simple, easy to use API.
  • Written in ANSI-C. TCL bindings included. Bindings for dozens of other languages available separately.
  • Well-commented source code with over 99% statement test coverage.
  • Available as a single ANSI-C source-code file that you can easily drop into another project.
  • Self-contained: no external dependencies.
  • Cross-platform: Unix (Linux and Mac OS X), OS/2, and Windows (Win32 and WinCE) are supported out of the box. Easy to port to other systems.
  • Sources are in the public domain. Use for any purpose.
  • Comes with a standalone command-line interface (CLI) client that can be used to administer SQLite databases.

Suggested Uses For SQLite:


  • Application File Format. Rather than using fopen() to write XML or some proprietary format into disk files used by your application, use an SQLite database instead. You'll avoid having to write and troubleshoot a parser, your data will be more easily accessible and cross-platform, and your updates will be transactional.


  • Database For Gadgets. SQLite is popular choice for the database engine in cellphones, PDAs, MP3 players, set-top boxes, and other electronic gadgets. SQLite has a small code footprint, makes efficient use of memory, disk space, and disk bandwidth, is highly reliable, and requires no maintenance from a Database Adminstrator.


  • Website Database. Because it requires no configuration and stores information in ordinary disk files, SQLite is a popular choice as the database to back small to medium-sized websites.


  • Stand-in For An Enterprise RDBMS. SQLite is often used as a surrogate for an enterprise RDBMS for demonstration purposes or for testing. SQLite is fast and requires no setup, which takes a lot of the hassle out of testing and which makes demos perky and easy to launch.

What is Blackfish SQL ?

Blackfish SQL Fully managed, SQL-compliant, highly portable, embedded database

Blackfish™ SQL is a high-performance, small-footprint, SQL-92 compliant transactional database. Blackfish SQL runs on both the .NET framework and on the Java platform. Database files are compatible between the two platforms.
Blackfish SQL for .NET is fully integrated with CodeGear RAD Studio, Delphi, C++Builder and Delphi Prism
Blackfish SQL for .NET supports stored procedures written in the Delphi, C#, VB or Delphi Prism languages. Developers can use RAD Studio's Data Explorer to easily manage their Blackfish databases.

Blackfish SQL

The design and implementation of Blackfish SQL emphasize database performance, scalability, ease of use, and a strong adherence to industry standards.
Blackfish SQL capabilities include the following:
  • Industry standards compliance
    • Entry level SQL-92 compliance
    • Unicode storage of character data
    • Unicode-based collation key support for sorting and indexing
    • dbExpress 4 drivers for Win32 Delphi and C++
    • ADO.NET 2.0 providers for .NET
    • JDBC for Java
    • JavaBeans data access components for Java
    • XA/JTA Distributed transactions for Java

  • Blackfish™ SQL can be run as a Windows Service, as a standalone server or as an inprocess, embedded database
  • High performance and scalability for demanding online transaction processing (OLTP) and decision support system (DSS) applications
  • For Windows, stored procedures and triggers can be written in any CLR compliant language, including Delphi
  • For Java, stored procedures and triggers can be written in Java
  • Zero-administration, single assembly or single-jar deployment
  • Database incremental backup and failover

Product Editions

Desktop Deployment License
This license permits deployment of Blackfish SQL for .NET or for Java on a single desktop machine for a single user with no limits on database size, memory cache size or number of CPUs. License only - software not included.
Server Deployment License
This license permits deployment of Blackfish SQL for .NET or for Java on a single server for access by local or remote users with no limits on database size, memory cache size or number of CPUs. License only - software not included. Available with 1, 5, 10, 25 or Unlimited user counts.
RAD Studio Professional Edition
Included in the Professional editions of CodeGear RAD Studio, Delphi, C++Builder, and Delphi Prism. Development license plus unlimited no charge desktop database deployment on systems with for 1 user / 4 connections, and support for databases up to 512 MB.
RAD Studio Enterprise Edition
Included in the Enterprise and Architect Editions of CodeGear RAD Studio, Delphi, C++Builder and Delphi Prism. Development license plus unlimited no charge deployment on systems with up to 5 users / 20 connections, and support for databases up to 2GB.
JBuilder Professional Edition
Included with JBuilder 2008 Professional. Development license plus unlimited no charge desktop database deployment on systems for 1 user / 4 connections, and support for databases up to 512 MB.
JBuilder Enterprise Edition
Included in JBuilder 2008 Enterprise. Development license plus unlimited no charge deployment on systems with up to 5 users / 20 connections, and support for databases up to 2GB.
VAR/OEM Licensing
Blackfish SQL is well suited to embedding into other software products. Value Added Reseller (VAR) agreements can be entered into, so that the developer can include Blackfish SQL as part of their own software product installation. Contact your Embarcadero sales representative for more details on VAR agreements.

What is InterBase SMP 2009 ?

InterBase SMP 2009 The powerful database for embedded and enterprise applications

  • New! Security and Encryption features
  • Built-in SMP for greater scalability; supports Dual/Quad-core and additional CPUs
  • High performance durable database solution
  • Powerful, high availability database for embedded and enterprise applications

The highly scalable, powerful, embeddable database

InterBase SMP combines performance benefits of a multi-generational architecture with peace of mind of log-based journaling and disaster recovery. Easy installation, small footprint, automatic crash recovery, self-tuning, Unicode, built-in SMP support, SQL 92 compliance, and near zero maintenance makes InterBase SMP the ideal database for embedded and business-critical small-to-medium enterprise server applications.

New in InterBase SMP 2009

    Database and column level encryption

    InterBase now supports the use of either weak (DES) or strong (AES) encryption to encrypt a database and/or individual columns in a database table, providing ultimate security for data and communications between servers and clients.

    Over-the-Wire (OTW) network encryption

    Typically, data encrypted at the database- or column-level is not encrypted during the transmission process. OTW encryption, however, allows you to do just that: encrypt data as it is communicated over a network from a client to a server. If you use OTW encryption, you must encrypt network transmissions with the same strength as was used to encrypt the database or columns. You can use weak or strong encryption, though to use strong (AES) encryption, you must obtain an optional strong encryption license, available at no additional charge.

    Encryption of backup files

    If you encrypt a database and/or any of its columns, you must also encrypt the backup files for that database. You decrypt the backup files during the restore process. This adds an additional layer of protection to your data.

    InterBase SMP 2009 To-Go Edition

    The new InterBase To-Go Edition is a small, portable version of the Desktop Edition. Target applications for the To-Go Edition include small devices and public kiosks, as well as Value Added Reseller (VAR) applications that were built using InterBase. Used in the To-Go edition form, InterBase does not have to be separately installed on any server or end-user workstation.

InterBase SMP 2009 Editions

    Server Edition
    InterBase SMP 2009 Server Edition features a scalable, portable, cross-platform database, ideal for mission critical enterprise or embedded applications.

    InterBase SMP 2009 Server Edition delivers high performance for applications with complex business logic and high concurrent user levels through its symmetric multiple processing support and multi-threaded architecture. Built-in SMP allows enterprises greater scalability with support for Dual/Quad-core and additional CPUs built-in, no additional licensing required. Fast, easy installation, a small footprint, automatic crash recovery, self-tuning, and near zero maintenance make InterBase SMP the ideal solution for embedded, turn-key applications. SQL 92 compliance, advanced data reliability and recovery, Unicode, numerous connectivity options, and support for Windows®, Linux, Solaris™, and Mac OS® X make InterBase SMP perfect for high-powered, cost-effective business-critical server applications in small-to-medium enterprises.

    Desktop Edition
    InterBase SMP 2009 Desktop Edition for Windows is a powerful, cost effective deployment solution for standalone applications.

    Through its integration with RAD Studio, Delphi®, C++Builder®, 3rdRail, and JBuilder® development tools, InterBase Desktop Edition enables the rapid development of sophisticated business applications. With a small operational footprint, capabilities for automatic crash recovery and incremental backup, InterBase SMP Desktop Edition is an ideal embedded database for broad, cost-effective deployments that lack IT support and administration resources.

    To-Go Edition
    The new InterBase SMP To-Go Edition is a completely embeddable, full-featured, zero administration database that enables ISVs and OEMs to bring their applications and solutions to market faster. The To-Go Edition allows deployment of applications that utilize the InterBase engine DLLs. No separate database server process is running; the database engine is executing in the application process space. InterBase To-Go provides the benefits of InterBase in an extremely small footprint. Available October,2008

    Developer Edition
    InterBase SMP 2009 Developer Edition provides all developers the best cross-platform database to build and test database applications for embedded and SME segments. Developers are free to choose the standard connectivity they want, and make use of a mature SQL92 compliant database for their applications. Database performance monitoring allows the developer to streamline applications for optimal deployment.

Top Reasons to Use MySQL

1. Scalability and Flexibility

The MySQL database server provides the ultimate in scalability, sporting the capacity to handle deeply embedded applications with a footprint of only 1MB to running massive data warehouses holding terabytes of information. Platform flexibility is a stalwart feature of MySQL with all flavors of Linux, UNIX, and Windows being supported. And, of course, the open source nature of MySQL allows complete customization for those wanting to add unique requirements to the database server.

2. High Performance

A unique storage-engine architecture allows database professionals to configure the MySQL database server specifically for particular applications, with the end result being amazing performance results. Whether the intended application is a high-speed transactional processing system or a high-volume web site that services a billion queries a day, MySQL can meet the most demanding performance expectations of any system. With high-speed load utilities, distinctive memory caches, full text indexes, and other performance-enhancing mechanisms, MySQL offers all the right ammunition for today's critical business systems.

3. High Availability

Rock-solid reliability and constant availability are hallmarks of MySQL, with customers relying on MySQL to guarantee around-the-clock uptime. MySQL offers a variety of high-availability options from high-speed master/slave replication configurations, to specialized Cluster servers offering instant failover, to third party vendors offering unique high-availability solutions for the MySQL database server.

4. Robust Transactional Support

MySQL offers one of the most powerful transactional database engines on the market. Features include complete ACID (atomic, consistent, isolated, durable) transaction support, unlimited row-level locking, distributed transaction capability, and multi-version transaction support where readers never block writers and vice-versa. Full data integrity is also assured through server-enforced referential integrity, specialized transaction isolation levels, and instant deadlock detection.

5. Web and Data Warehouse Strengths

MySQL is the de-facto standard for high-traffic web sites because of its high-performance query engine, tremendously fast data insert capability, and strong support for specialized web functions like fast full text searches. These same strengths also apply to data warehousing environments where MySQL scales up into the terabyte range for either single servers or scale-out architectures. Other features like main memory tables, B-tree and hash indexes, and compressed archive tables that reduce storage requirements by up to eighty-percent make MySQL a strong standout for both web and business intelligence applications.

6. Strong Data Protection

Because guarding the data assets of corporations is the number one job of database professionals, MySQL offers exceptional security features that ensure absolute data protection. In terms of database authentication, MySQL provides powerful mechanisms for ensuring only authorized users have entry to the database server, with the ability to block users down to the client machine level being possible. SSH and SSL support are also provided to ensure safe and secure connections. A granular object privilege framework is present so that users only see the data they should, and powerful data encryption and decryption functions ensure that sensitive data is protected from unauthorized viewing. Finally, backup and recovery utilities provided through MySQL and third party software vendors allow for complete logical and physical backup as well as full and point-in-time recovery.

7. Comprehensive Application Development

One of the reasons MySQL is the world's most popular open source database is that it provides comprehensive support for every application development need. Within the database, support can be found for stored procedures, triggers, functions, views, cursors, ANSI-standard SQL, and more. For embedded applications, plug-in libraries are available to embed MySQL database support into nearly any application. MySQL also provides connectors and drivers (ODBC, JDBC, etc.) that allow all forms of applications to make use of MySQL as a preferred data management server. It doesn't matter if it's PHP, Perl, Java, Visual Basic, or .NET, MySQL offers application developers everything they need to be successful in building database-driven information systems.

8. Management Ease

MySQL offers exceptional quick-start capability with the average time from software download to installation completion being less than fifteen minutes. This rule holds true whether the platform is Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh, or UNIX. Once installed, self-management features like automatic space expansion, auto-restart, and dynamic configuration changes take much of the burden off already overworked database administrators. MySQL also provides a complete suite of graphical management and migration tools that allow a DBA to manage, troubleshoot, and control the operation of many MySQL servers from a single workstation. Many third party software vendor tools are also available for MySQL that handle tasks ranging from data design and ETL, to complete database administration, job management, and performance monitoring.

9. Open Source Freedom and 24 x 7 Support

Many corporations are hesitant to fully commit to open source software because they believe they can't get the type of support or professional service safety nets they currently rely on with proprietary software to ensure the overall success of their key applications. The questions of indemnification come up often as well. These worries can be put to rest with MySQL as complete around-the-clock support as well as indemnification is available through MySQL Network. MySQL is not a typical open source project as all the software is owned and supported by MySQL AB, and because of this, a unique cost and support model are available that provides a unique combination of open source freedom and trusted software with support.

10. Lowest Total Cost of Ownership

By migrating current database-drive applications to MySQL, or using MySQL for new development projects, corporations are realizing cost savings that many times stretch into seven figures. Accomplished through the use of the MySQL database server and scale-out architectures that utilize low-cost commodity hardware, corporations are finding that they can achieve amazing levels of scalability and performance, all at a cost that is far less than those offered by proprietary and scale-up software vendors. In addition, the reliability and easy maintainability of MySQL means that database administrators don't waste time troubleshooting performance or downtime issues, but instead can concentrate on making a positive impact on higher level tasks that involve the business side of data.

What is Firebird ?

Firebird is a relational database offering many ANSI SQL standard features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. Firebird offers excellent concurrency, high performance, and powerful language support for stored procedures and triggers. It has been used in production systems, under a variety of names, since 1981.

The Firebird Project is a commercially independent project of C and C++ programmers, technical advisors and supporters developing and enhancing a multi-platform relational database management system based on the source code released by Inprise Corp (now known as Borland Software Corp) on 25 July, 2000.

FREE LIKE A BIRD. Anyone can build a custom version of Firebird, as long as the modifications are made available, under the same IDPL licensing, for others to use and build on.

FREE LIKE FREE BEER. No fees for download, registration, licensing or deployment, even you distribute Firebird as part of your commercial software package.

Firebird's development depends on voluntary funding by people who benefit from using it. Funding options range from donations, through Firebird Foundation memberships to sponsorship commitments. Choosing Firebird and saving or making money by your choice? Show your appreciation and encouragement by contributing money in proportion to these benefits.


Select Statement : Common Usage

Opening all columns from a Table sorted by specified Column

SELECT * FROM TargetTable ORDER BY ColumnName

How to copy a table ?

Make a copy of an existing table

SELECT * INTO TargetTable FROM SourceTable


Make a copy of the structure of an existing table

SELECT * INTO
TargetTable FROM SourceTable WHERE 1=0