The Firebird Project has ported its lightweight, open-source database to the ARM architecture. The project is looking for help testing a new Firebird 2.1 RC2 release, which in addition to ARM support, adds database triggers, temporary and monitoring tables, common table expressions, and recursive… queries.

Firebird is a SQL (pronounced “sequel”) database designed to be embedded within other applications. It evolved from Interbase database source code released under an open source license by Borland. The code was translated into C++ with the Firebird 2.0 release in Nov. of 2006, and has also been ported to MIPS, PowerPC, and other architectures listed here.

Besides new support for ARM, the 2.1 RC2 release adds improved performance and security, international language support, and new SQL language functions, according to project spokeswoman Marius Popa Adrian. Adrian explained, “The 2.1 release has many interesting new features that you can play with, like database triggers, temporary and monitoring tables, common table expressions, recursive queries and dozens of new inbuilt functions. We encourage you to see what you can achieve with these new features, and let us know about any deficiency. Linux x86 kits for 32-bit and 64-bit platforms are ready to download now. You are invited to test it furiously and report your experiences (good or bad) back to the firebird-devel list.”

Adrian added that the release also brings “a large collection of long-awaited enhancements,” including a “much more robust code platform from which the re-architecting planned for Firebird 2.5/3.0 is proceeding.”

Firebird comprises a database engine, ODBC driver, “Jaybird” native class 4 JCA-JDBC driver, .NET data provider, and extensive documentation and testing materials. A related “FlameRobin” project aims to provide a graphical interface assembled from open source components.

Availability

Firebird 2.1 RC2 is now available for free download, here, says the Firebird Project. It's available under a Mozilla-like public license, precompiled for 32-bit Windows and Linux, and offered in both Classic (spawns a new process for each connection) and “SuperServer” (threaded architecture with a shared cache) versions. The latest ARM port is available here. A Firebird Project 2008 roadmap is also said to be available.

Bonus trivia note: The Firefox web browser was originally named Firebird, but the name was changed to avoid confusion with the older open source database project.

 
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