Blackfish SQL and InterBase from CodeGear

I attend on the EKON12-spring conference this week, like every year. One of my sessions covered about Blackfish SQL, the new database from CodeGear. In the discussion inside the session and after the session in the exhibition-area of the conference I realized that not all have understood the differences between these two databases.

I’ll try to explain it in this blog.

First: InterBase isn’t deprecated! The InterBase-Team works in Scotts Valley on this unmanaged database for the OS Windows, Linux and Solaris (Sparc).

Second: Blackfish SQL is a database for the both frameworks, .net from Microsoft and Java from Sun.

secret It’s not really new, it’s IMO version 8 of JDataStore and this mean you will get a very stable and optimized database! /secret

Well, if you’re a native-win32 developer your first impression is perhaps: “I use InterBase on Windows” and the Blackfish SQL for .net is only for a VCL.net or ASP.net-developer with an ADO.net provider interesting. This isn’t correct.

Codegear of published an interesting article (FAQ) about Blackfish SQL.

Blackfish SQL for .net is ideally suited for

• ASP.net data storage
• embedded .net application
• Delphi application (Win32 and VCL.net)

Blackfish SQL for java is ideally suited for
• Java data storage,
• Embedded Java Swint/SWT apps,
• Java application

InterBase 2007
• Workgroup to Small Enterprise Databaseapplications
• Embedded Apps

OS / Framework

Blackfish SQL for .net

• .net framework (at the moment not for the CF.net available but I expect a version for this)

Blackfish SQL for Java

• Java Framework from a big server to a cellphone with JavaVM

InterBase 2007

• Windows, Linux, Solaris (Sparc) and, new(!), MacOS X

Programming

Blackfish SQL for .net

• Delphi 2007 (Package.net for .net2 Framework); and C#/VB.net

Blackfish SQL for Java

• JBuilder and other Java-IDEs

InterBase 2007

• SQL

Case IDE of (in my Blog I can use the Case with strings… I miss it in Delphi! Nick, I would buy a big bavarian beer for this feature :-) )

• Delphi for PHP -> InterBase 2007

• 3rd Rail / Ruby -> InterBase 2007

• RAD Studio 2007

Asp.net / VCL.net -> Blackfish SQL for .net or InterBase 2007
Win32 -> Blackfish SQL for .net or InterBase 2007

• JBuilder -> Blackfish SQL for Java or InterBase

End;

You see, both databases have special areas and IMO makes both databases sense because with this YOU can make the choice for the best solution for your customer!

Well, after this short explain of BF <> IB I’ll blog in the next few weeks about more information’s and experience with Blackfish SQL for .net in my blog.

And if you wonder about the "Why BF, compared with other databases on the (.net/Java)-market": There are many reasons and I collect these and will make another blog with answers about this question....(next week )

Stay tuned.

In April I make in Germany a one-day-training with the content “dbx4 (2/3 of the day) and Blackfish SQL for .net (1/3 of the day) @Entwickler-Akademie near Frankfurt.