Embed HSQLDB into your Java applications

by David Petersheim | Aug 12, 2005 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Storage, Databases, Programming languages, Java application, Java, David Petersheim, HSQLDB, database, Java Tips Newsletter

Takeaway: If you need an embedded database for your application, then discover why HSQLDB—a compact, 100 percent Java, SQL standards-based, database engine—might be the right answer for you.

Using a database for your application's permanent storage is a practical, standard decision. But what do you do when your application is deployed on a machine that will not have access to your company's enterprise databases? You take the database with you. If you need a database on the go, then HSQLDB may be the solution for you.

HSQLDB is a compact, 100 percent Java, SQL standards-based, database engine. You can embed HSQLDB into your applications and control it programmatically, or you can run it as a stand-alone database as you would any other JDBC-compliant database. It's useful when you need database access from a location with no access to your company's network; when you need an in-memory storage solution; or as a resource for unit testing your database components.

HSQLDB stands apart from many open source projects by providing extra features with the core product. For instance, HSQLDB has a built-in Web server and comes with a servlet for accessing the database. The tiny database also supports triggers and indexes and allows you to call Java procedures directly from within your SQL statements.

Feature-for-feature and performance-wise, HSQLDB cannot compare with the standard commercial solutions like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Sybase. But if you need an embedded database for your application, then HSQLDB might be the right answer for you.

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