Pervasive Enhances Embedded Database

Pervasive Software Inc. this week is announcing the availability of Pervasive.SQL 8.0, its embedded database software, with added performance and enhancements to the products integrated Client Cache engine and Dynamic Cache.

Corey Malcom, quality assurance engineer for Timberline Software Corp., an independent software vendor in Beaverton, Ore., whos been beta testing the software for a number of months, said the speed gain is im-pressive. "Were looking at between four to 15 times the performance," Malcom said.

Other new features include a SQL relational database engine that delivers a host of new interfaces: ODBC, Java Database Connectivity, Active Data Objects and OLE DB.

Thats what embedded database users are clamoring for, said Mark Shainman, an analyst for Meta Group Inc., in Los Angeles. "In most cases, [Pervasives customers have] specific development environment codes for their SQL database," Shainman said. "As [Pervasive] moves foward with more open standards for their interfaces, it allows more developers to write their applications to go on top of their databases."

Also new is an enhanced Turbo Write Accelerator, which improves the performance of applications that update, delete or insert records frequently. Performance enhancements to the development environment include improved SQL syntax, which assists in developing new applications or in leveraging existing data with the use of third-party development tools.

Pervasive, in Cambridge, Mass., has priced the desktop workgroup engines for Pervasive.SQL 8.0 at $25. Full client/ server engines start at $845 for a six-user license. Volume discounts and upgrade pricing are also available.