All this talk about DataBases

[Rob Cozens]

Scott, Joe, et al:

>I believe Rob Cozens does something of the sought [partially load a 
>db stack] with Serendipity, but the question is whether it's really 
>worth while given it's all there already with a "real" database.

I've followed this thread this far wondering "should I bother to 
mention SDB, considering the underwhelming response it has received 
from the RunRun community?"

Scott & Andre might offer some insight in this regard, as both have 
at least looked at SDB.  I've had eConversations with others who said 
they would look at SDB; but no followup questions, suggestions, or 
complaints.  So I don't know if folks found it unsuitable or 
incomprehensible (Paul L., Our issues were different: you wanted SDB 
to work like EpsiTalk, which it could not do due to the issue Scott 
noted above--the entire database stack _is_ loaded in RAM & must be 
updated when one record changes.)

If a "real" database must by definition only partially load to RAM, 
then SDB is not a "real" db.  OTOH, SDB supports multiuser 
client/server access with both automatic & programatic record 
locking  and multiple record search & retrieval via binary searches 
of indexed records in a Revolution db stack.   But compared to a 
"real" database, once the db stack is opened, 0 disk accesses are 
required to retrieve any record.   And note that in a client/server 
setup, only the server app sees the entire db stack, while the client 
front end stacks deal with data on a record-by-record basis.  Also 
since SDB is 100% native Transcript, it is 100% cross platform 
compatible and requires no externals.  I'll cut my promo short and 
note SDB is open source and free of royalty charges.

For some time Andre Garzia graciously provided download access to 
Serendipity Library (which includes SDB) at wecode.org.  Andre and I 
have had some discussions about reinstating the download site once I 
was ready to release SDB II (which supports binary data  in addition 
to text); but lacking any expression of interest from the RunRev 
community and faced with emerging issues (CA Marine Life Protection 
Act implementation, wave energy generation, and marine aquaculture) 
in my other area of focus, SDB II testing isn't high on my list.

As always, the source code, utilities, and example db stacks are 
available, and I'd certainly have more interest in working on it if 
someone else found it useful.


Rob Cozens, Staff Conservator
Mendonoma Marine Life Conservancy