ibrahim@beowulf.ucsd.edu (Hisham Ibrahim) (03/14/89)
I work for an engineering design company. We are currently evaluating database vendors for the specific purpose of selecting a database to support our engineering activities (i.e. when completed, the database will contain a whole lot of design information). We see Interbase ( a small company in mass.) as a potential candidate. They have the necessary tools and experience in our environment (Apollo). We have done some (limited) testing of the product and find it acceptable. Surprisingly, I have not seen this vendor discussed on the net. Has anybody out there seen, heard of, or know anything about Interbase? Robert McHugh
matt@iquery.UUCP (Matt Reedy) (03/14/89)
In article <6095@sdcsvax.UCSD.Edu>, ibrahim@beowulf.ucsd.edu (Hisham Ibrahim) writes: > > We see > Interbase ( a small company in mass.) as a potential candidate. > > Has anybody out there seen, heard of, or > know anything about Interbase? > I was perusing the April 89 issue of Unix World magazine, when lo and behold on page 52-53 a nice advertising spread from Interbase. My first exposure to Interbase was in the VAX/VMS environment. A 4GL company I work with is reselling Interbase's database product on the VAX. My limited understanding of the situation is that Interbase is composed of some ex-DEC folks who felt they could do a better job with an RDBMS than DEC. Their product has a very nice call level interface (on the VAX anyway) based on DEC's DSRI (Digital Standard Relational Interface). Their product appears to be very robust and well supported. Beyond that, I can't say much - I haven't really used their database in a production enviornment. matt -- Matthew Reedy UUCP: gatech!petro!iquery!matt Programmed Intelligence Corp. 400 N Loop 1604 E, Suite 330 San Antonio, TX 78232 (512) 490 6684
mitchell@wdl1.UUCP (Jo Mitchell) (03/16/89)
I've used it for a quick and dirty application. It's application environment isn't too great (read "no 4GL") and in order to get the full power you must use their proprietary query language (GDML) as opposed to the growing industry standard SQL. (This however will get you blobs, triggers, recursive queries for those parts expansion or bill of material types of application, and other goodies). It also is lacking in terms of support utilities to tune database. The company isn't fully slicked-out yet (bugs in installation tape, informality in customer support - general signs of still maturing company). It certainly is powerful however - especially for the Apollo (they're still limited on Suns: no journaling and only works with C). Their document and customer service seem ok. They're pretty inexpensive. Aside from the neat features GDML gives, Interbase also allows you to access databases across a network. I know the Software Productivity Consortium and Lockheed are using it. All in all, if you don't mind working with a still maturing company with possible risks in using GDML, they're a good buy. ..................................JO.......................................... "Opinions are mine. For today. For the moment. For the instant. For the secon