Blackfish SQL Overview

The design and implementation of Blackfish SQL emphasizes database performance, scalability, ease of use, and a strong adherence to industry standards. Blackfish SQL capabilities include the following:

Industry standards compliance
- Entry level SQL-92
- Unicode storage of character data
- Unicode-based collation key support for sorting and indexing
- dbExpress 4 drivers for win32 Delphi and C++
- ADO.NET 2.0 providers for .NET
- JDBC for Java
- JavaBean data access components for Java
- XA/JTA Distributed transactions for Java
High performance and scalability for demanding online transaction processing (OLTP) and decision support system (DSS) applications
Delphi, C#, and VB.NET stored procedures and triggers for Windows
Java-stored procedures and triggers
Zero-administration, single assembly or single-jar deployment
Database incremental backup and failover

Blackfish SQL DataStore

Blackfish SQL is the name of the product, its tools, and of the file format. Within this product, there is a datastore package that includes a DataStore class, as well as several additional classes that have DataStore as part of their names.

Blackfish SQL Compatibility

Blackfish SQL for Windows and Blackfish SQL for Java are highly compatible with one another. The database file format is binary-compatible between Blackfish SQL for Windows and Blackfish SQL for Java. In addition, database clients and servers are interchangeable. Windows clients can connect to Java servers and Java clients can connect to Windows servers.

Because the Blackfish SQL for Windows implementation is more recent, some Blackfish SQL for Java features are not yet supported. The following features are not supported:

ISQL SQL Command Line Interpreter
High Availability features, including incremental backup and failover
Graphical tooling for administrative capabilities
Access to file and object streams
Tracking and resolving of row-level insert, update and delete operations
Access to the Blackfish SQL File System directory

Blackfish SQL Connectivity

This section provides an overview of the connection drivers provided for Blackfish SQL for Windows and Blackfish SQL for Java, respectively. For instructions on using the drivers to connect to a Blackfish SQL database, see the Blackfish SQL Developer's Guide, Establishing Connections section

Blackfish SQL for Windows Connectivity

Blackfish SQL for Windows provides the following connection drivers:

DBXClient: This is a win32 dbExpress 4 database driver that enables win32 Delphi and C++ applications to connect to a remote Blackfish SQL for Windows or Blackfish SQL for Java server.
Local ADO.NET 2.0 Provider: This is a 100% managed code driver that enables .NET applications to connect to a local Blackfish SQL for Windows server. The local ADO.NET driver executes in the same process as the BlackFishSQL database kernel, for greater performance.
Remote ADO.NET 2.0 Provider: This is a 100% managed code driver that enables .NET applications to acquire a remote connection to either a Blackfish SQL for Windows or Blackfish SQL for Java server.

Blackfish SQL for Java Connectivity

Blackfish SQL for Java provides the following JDBC connection drivers:

Local JDBC driver: This is a 100% managed code driver that enables Java applications to connect to a local Blackfish SQL for Java server. The local JDBC driver executes in the same process as the BlackFishSQL database kernel, for greater performance.
Remote JDBC driver: This is a 100% managed code driver that enables Java applications to acquire a remote connection to either a Blackfish SQL for Windows or Blackfish SQL for Java server.