May 12, 2005 — Bellevue, WA — ITTIA is releasing db.* 2.0 to its community members (Club ITTIA). Club ITTIA is a mobile and embedded database community, where developers come together to share information.
This superior small-footprint database for mobile and embedded systems delivers a message to the marketplace: ITTIA is committed to Club ITTIA members and continues taking steps toward enabling members to benefit from better technologies and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
The new features include XML export support, improved test suites, better multi- platform support and an enhanced autotools-based build system. The features and improved functionality in db.* 2.0 are based on community feedback.
The new version of db.* supports the uClinux embedded operating system. It also works with the eCos real-time operating system (RTOS). ITTIA has added XML export support, which allows the entire database or selected record types to be made available in XML format. This produces a complete and accurate representation of the database structure in an intuitive format, customized to the database schema. Both record data and relationships between records are made available in correct sort order. Additionally, a DTD (document type definition) can be generated that reflects the database schema, which can be used to validate exported XML documents.
The build system enhancements improve multi-platform support by utilizing GNU cross-compile tools. The database management system can now easily be built on one platform (such as x86 Linux) and run on a separate platform (such as uClinux on ARM). Architecture byte order (big-endian vs. little-endian) problems have been solved by allowing a db.*-powered applications to process their database schemas and initialize databases themselves, rather than accomplishing this through a separate tool.
Finally, the ITTIA test suites have been further enhanced to be more user-friendly, with easy to read pass/fail output and a simplified framework to make adding new tests easier. The test suites have also been modified to run within a single process, allowing them to be used on embedded platforms like eCos. These enhancements improve regression testing for developers.
These new features serve to compliment an already strong database solution. Club ITTIA members also receive many other benefits, including technical support, consulting and training services.
The benefits of these services go beyond simply speeding development times. Many applications built with databases are quite complicated. Small oversights in the first few months of development can snowball into major obstacles later. Well-built database support can prevent project failure by ensuring that the final product is built on a strong foundation. Technical support, consulting and training can give a project that necessary foundation.
Recently, Oshkosh, the largest specialty truck manufacturer in the world, took advantage of Club ITTIA training and support services for a db.* based embedded Linux project for an upcoming version of a military truck. The training and technical support from ITTIA greatly helped Oshkosh during their database development.
“The new version of db.* adds features that increase the value of Club ITTIA membership,” said Sasan Montaseri, president of ITTIA. “We look forward to working with various organizations and assisting them in reducing licensing fees and speeding their development by joining Club ITTIA.”
