Re: Easily distributable database

* JB wrote, On 23-7-2007 22:10:
I'm writing a data driven app, its all just about finished but i
havent decided how to store the data.

I'm looking at some form of database. Requirements:
Easy to Distribute, hopefully just some hard disk files.
Relatively quick to query.
I think in this case, speed is secondary to ease of use for the end
user. Although speed is always important, which is why i wont be using
xml :)

Data *shouldnt* get any bigger than 1GB (it shouldnt get more than a
few hundred meg but i'd like room for expansion).

My choices:
1) Access: Easy to use, distributes as stand alone files.
But then i'd have to go out and buy a copy of office :(
2) SQLite, never used it, oonly just heard of it today, starting to
read up about it now, seems like it will work similarly to access
(from the outside at least), dont know how the speed is though.
3) SQL Server Express: "Free to download, free to redistribute, free
to embed" according to microsoft.
It seems like a really good option, a free SQLServer seems like it
would be incredibly flexible and fast. But I am concerned about how
easy it would be to distribute with a prog? Will any potential users
have to download the sql server express app? or a couple of run-time
files? or nothing?
4) Fill in the blanks. Any other suggestions?

Opinions welcomed and appreciated.



5) SqlServer Compact Edition. It's basically the SQL Server version that used to be only for the Windows Mobile & Windows CE platform. it can now be used on any windows platform. it consists of just 3 dll's and a data file that need to be packages with your application. No 10s of megabyte large setup files, no system services no nothing. It's performance is very good and it supports most of the functionality of for example Access. It comes with a special ADO.NET provider which looks almost like the standard System.Data.SqlServer you're already used to.

There's a few gotcha's:
- No Stored Procedures
- No Triggers

Other than that, you're all set.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/compact/default.mspx

Jesse
.

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