Apache Derby is Off and Running -- ADTmag

Apache Derby is Off and Running

By ADT Staff
August 9, 2005

The Apache Derby development community has released Apache Derby 10.1.1.0. Derby graduated from the incubator in July and is now a subproject of the Apache DB project.

Derby, which is written in pure Java, is a standards-based relational database engine. It supports Java platforms such as OSGi, J2ME, J2SE and J2EE.

Derby aims to be an easy-to-use solution for data management for software developers, with zero administration for end users, the development group says.

Derby technology adheres to database standards such as JDBC and ANSI SQL standards, says the Apache development group. This means Derby provides the functionality expected of a modern relational database, including SQL syntax, transaction management, concurrency, triggers and online backups. It also means developers can later migrate to other databases, the group adds.

This release includes a new open-source network client driver, as well as support for J2ME/CDC/Foundation with JSR-169 JDBC subset; compression to reduce disk space; and XA support for Network Server.

Derby is an embedded database that can either be used within an application or as the database for a more traditional client-server application. It has a very small footprint and does not require a database administrator.

Derby is based on IBM’s Cloudscape, which IBM acquired from Informix in 2001. IBM contributed the code to the Apache Software Foundation, which renamed the RDBMS Derby.

According to IBM, the difference between Derby and IBM Cloudscape is users can purchase support for IBM Cloudscape. Like Derby, IBM Cloudscape is a free download and IBM does not intend to charge a license fee to use it.

Derby is available at: Apache Derby.