IBM Sets DB2 Database Free (Beer)

Anonymous Coward writes to tell us that in the hopes of winning more developer interest, IBM has released a free version of their DB2 database. From the article: "DB Express-C is the same database as IBM's commercial offerings but the company places limits on what kind of hardware it can run on. It can be deployed on systems with two processor cores or up to two dual-core chips on Advanced Micro Devices- or Intel-based servers. The memory limit is 4GB but there are no limits on the size of database or number of users. "

Comments

Question for/from the Inept

[eldavojohn]

*puts on his ragged and unused database admin hat*

*paints two large concentric circles on his chest, one inside the other*

*throws off his gloves ... and steps into the circle of death that is known as a Slashdot forum*

Alright, I run a MYSQL database at home for my little crappy web server which no one visits because pictures of me visiting Mexico isn't exactly worth typing a number into your browser. All those details aside, why should I switch to either Microsoft's SQL Server 2005, Oracle 10g or DB2?

I'm a huge MYSQL fan ... well, because I've enjoyed their stuff freely for quite some time. Suddenly, everyone (and their dog) is releasing their once-thousand-dollar database in a free and slightly inhibited form.

Why the hell should I even bother thinking about switching to these new databases? And, further more, it seems that most of these newly free databases are not intended for corporate use ... like DB2's memory limit and the castrations of the other databases ... so where do they belong? In the hands of small businesses? A company's "developer camp?"

And could you be so kind as to make the prior assumption that I know I'm an idiot so you don't need to tell me that. Just give me some nice hard facts that are easy to measurably prove one database has an advantage over another.

By the way, thanks ScuttleMonkey for clarifying that it's "free as in beer." Unfortunately it's only noon and now you've awakened my desire to get slammed over lunch.

Re:Question for/from the Inept

[jzeejunk]

Alright, I run a MYSQL database at home for my little crappy web server which no one visits because pictures of me visiting Mexico isn't exactly worth typing a number into your browser.

You are underestimating the slashdot crowd. Try posting a link to your website here.

Re:Question for/from the Inept

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

I'm glad you're happy with MySQL for your personal web site. But what does that have to do with DB2? IBM is trying to attract developers, not small web site webmasters.

Re:Question for/from the Inept

[AKAImBatman]

Alright, I run a MYSQL database at home for my little crappy web server which no one visits because pictures of me visiting Mexico isn't exactly worth typing a number into your browser. All those details aside, why should I switch to either Microsoft's SQL Server 2005, Oracle 10g or DB2?

You shouldn't. In fact, it's mildly surprising you're even bothering with a database.

You should download the big databases if you fit in any of the following categories:

1) You need to develop against or evalute the database.
2) You need to learn the database to increase your marketable skills.
3) You happen to run a high-traffic site and you need features not found in PostgreSQL.
4) You run a site that you expect to grow in traffic and want the option of upgrading to a more powerful version of the software at a later date.

I'm sure that others can find one or two more cases under which these DBs would be useful.

Re:Question for/from the Inept

[eldavojohn]

You are underestimating the slashdot crowd. Try posting a link to your website here.

Yes, everyone's intent will be to view my vacation pictures.

Wait a minute ... why is my internet slowing down ... and what's a "port scanner." Well, if Window's firewall is asking me to allow it to come through on port 445, it must be ok.

Re:Question for/from the Inept

[morgan_greywolf]

Two words: Software validation. Database licenses are very, very expensive. You have an app that you've already developed against, say, Oracle or DB2, and you want to to run some test scenarios from a functionality standpoint. You could spend thousands on the software, or you could just keep your testing scenarios within the limits of the free beer version and not have to worry about software licenses. Later, you will probably need to prove out your software from a scalability perspetive and you'll need the real software then, but you don't need to be paying for the license during your year-long release cycle.

features

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

does mysql do this:

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library/ techarticle/dm-0511singh/

Re:features

[zardo]

Here are the major differences between commercial databases I've used, all offer a free "express" edition:

Sybase Cheaper version of Oracle, much of the same underlying code, optimised for speed although maybe not quite as fast as Oracle. Missing some features like GIS datatypes. Annoying limitations like a 30 character name limit and no full outer joins (only the union trick). Recently integrated with the java virtual machine to do java stored procedures, good for java development. Popular with financial transaction companies, probably due to stable codebase (not a lot changes). MS SQL Microsoft buys Sybase codebase, which is decent, and build into it a lot of developer studio tools and integration, no Java. Oracle Much the same as Sybase, grew out of the same early-era databases, with more features/options (like GIS datatypes) and arguably, it's faster too. Also the most expensive. Popular with Java applications, java integration just like Sybase. Same annoying limitations like 30 character limit on names and no full outer joins. DB2 Move forward with new features unlike Oracle and Sybase, noticably different feel than the classic databases. Java integration also. None of the annoying limitations mentioned earlier. MySQL Lots of advanced features added in newer versions, such as GIS datatypes (by programmers for programmers, as they say). Fast, low memory footprint, free. Widespread support. Biggest setbacks are the lousy query optimizer and other fundamental aspects of the core which may come back to bite you, although I hear it has a well organized design that aids in development of new features. PGSQL Great database, been around long time, used to be slow but now is faster with more popularity due to mysql success. Free and all that. Biggest limitation in my limited experience is the lack of any replication features built in.

I know I may have missed some major issues that I'm not aware of, so feel free to add to this.

Free (Beer)

[Anonymous Coward]

Forget the software. Where do I get the free beer?

Re:I'm confused

[Fire Dragon]

How does this differ from the "Free" version they used to give away?

The "Free" version that they used to give away was for development use. You couldn't use that version on your production system. At least thats how I remember it. I was playing around with it and decided not to install it because of that limitation.

With this new version, it can be used on small production enviroments also. This makes it a lot appealing because of the starting costs of development and moving to production.