Embedded SQL Databases?

kumquat asks: "We are creating a desktop version of a java web application that currently uses MySQL. What small footprint SQL databases would you recommend embedding into applications? I'm looking for: zero maintenance, small footprint, runs in multiple platforms (Windows, Unix, Linux). Low cost or free would be a bonus. Freshmeat turned up a couple of possibilities: hysqldb and Mckoi SQL."

Interbase

[fm6]

I don't know much about embedded DBs. I do know that Borland (for whom I work) sells Interbase [borland.com], mainly as an embedded database. I have it running on my Linux box, and its footprint and maintenance needs are both quite small. It's a full-featured multi-threaded relational DB. Open Source, of course!

Another possibility

[elefantstn]

Enhydra makes a database called [lutris.com]
InstantDB which is small, embedable, and Java. It's cheap, but not free. It used to be Free, and if you look around, you can find copies of the Free version around still (I'm not sure if they're maintained anymore). In reality, though, I'm not sure why you wouldn't go with hsql, which is just as good, just as embedable, and Freer. Is there something wrong with hsql that is making you look elsewhere?

Sybase SQL Anywhere

[platos_beard]

...or whatever the hell they're calling it now.
Also not free, but it does Windows, Windows CE, Linux, and they have an "Ultralight" version for embedding.

Re:Sybase SQL Anywhere

[JWanderer]

This product has worked well on our projects, and Sybase has been good about delivering bug fixes on all platforms.

Cloudscape sounds perfect

[wmshub]

Your description of needs is almost word-for-word how Informix (now IBM) describes Cloudscape. A quote from the cloudscape info page [ibm.com]:

Cloudscape is a full-function database that requires zero administration, is scalable and secure. These features allow Cloudscape to deliver a lower total cost of ownership to customers who want to anonymously embed databases into their Java-based applications.

It is not free, but it's not outrageously expensive either. I believe that it costs in the low hundreds of dollars.

Virtual tables?

[fm6]

Sounds like an interesting product. But what's this crap about "virtual tables"? They talk as if this were a groundbreaking feature. All relational databases have them. They're called "views".

Re:Cloudscape sounds perfect

[ameoba]

A friend of mine works for a company that started a project with Cloudscape, and from what he's told me, it's worse than working with flat text files. I can't remember the details of the project, but based on what he told me, cloudscape is -not- the place to look for your answers.

Maybe instead of an SQL database, a slightly more low-level, Berkeley DB library type solution might work for you.

bdb!

[sinator]

There's always Berkely DB: It's not particularly full featured, but it's fast, reasonably robust, portable, and can maintain referential integrity (technically, if you reduce your relations to BCNF, they're all binary relations anyway).

JDataStore

[billr]

Take a look at JDataStore from Borland. They claim it's inexpensive, and it's designed for exactly what you want.

look here [borland.com]

Good luck!

tinySQL - open source, 100% Java

[bjepson]

Have a look at tinySQL [jepstone.net] - it's open source (LGPL), and 100% Java. It is an extensible SQL engine that has a JDBC driver. It started out life as a quick hack, but it's improved significantly thanks to the contributions of others. The most recent version is usually available in CVS, but there is a fairly recent tarball and jar file up there.

Enjoy,

Brian

SQLite

[tawaste]

If you just need SQL for one app, take look at SQLite [hwaci.com]. It's not client-server db, but SQL provided on top of gdbm files.

Re:SQLite

[BJC]

Version 2 of SQLite uses its own data files and is no longer dependent on gdbm.

no complaints so far with hsqldb

[brlewis]

I'm using it in my learnbrl [sourceforge.net] tutorial. It's not well documented, but easy to use from the examples.

java SQL JDBC/ODBC bridge.

[Zurk]

well...its technically a driver but it allows you to run SQL statements on Excel spreadsheets, text files, CSV files and everything else. and its packaged with Java. check the com.sun.* classes..its fairlyu easy to connect it to a CSV file and use SQL on it.
and it doesnt have any size either since its part of the jdk.

Try Mimer SQL

[pesc]

We develop Mimer SQL which may fit your needs. Feel free to download and try it!

http://developer.mimer.com [mimer.com]

runs on Windows, Unix, Linux and VMS

Client/server. Multiuser.

Supports Embedded SQL, ODBC and JDBC

Advanced optimistic transaction control

High level of SQL standard conformance

Stored procedures

For any questions, feel free to ask me /[e-mail]