Apache Derby vs. FirebirdSQL

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apache Derby
Score 7.0 out of 10
N/A
Apache Derby is an embedded relational database management system, originally developed by IBM and called IBM Cloudscape.N/A
Firebird
Score 9.4 out of 10
N/A
FirebirdSQL is an open-source database which can be embedded.N/A
Pricing
Apache DerbyFirebirdSQL
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apache DerbyFirebird
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Best Alternatives
Apache DerbyFirebirdSQL
Small Businesses
SQLite
SQLite
Score 9.3 out of 10
InfluxDB
InfluxDB
Score 8.6 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
SQLite
SQLite
Score 9.3 out of 10
SQLite
SQLite
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
SQLite
SQLite
Score 9.3 out of 10
SQLite
SQLite
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apache DerbyFirebirdSQL
Likelihood to Recommend
7.0
(3 ratings)
8.2
(5 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
5.0
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apache DerbyFirebirdSQL
Likelihood to Recommend
Apache
If you need a SQL-capable database-like solution that is file-based and embeddable in your existing Java Virtual Machine processes, Apache Derby is an open-source, zero cost, robust and performant option. You can use it to store structured relational data but in small files that can be deployed right alongside with your solution, such as storing a set of relational master data or configuration settings inside your binary package that is deployed/installed on servers or client machines.
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Open Source
It is able to handle simultaneous connections when using the embedded software version. It is well suited for organizations looking for standalone servers that can handle high data volumes and still perform well and which is also cost-effective database management system especially when they are working on a low budget.
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Pros
Apache
  • Apache Derby is SMALL. Compared to an enterprise scale system such as MSSQL, it's footprint is very tiny, and it works well as a local database.
  • The SPEED. I have found that Apache Derby is very fast, given the environment I was developing in.
  • Based in JAVA (I know that's an obvious thing to say), but Java allows you to write some elegant Object Oriented structures, thus allowing for fast, Agile test cases against the database.
  • Derby is EASY to implement and can be accessed from a console with little difficulty. Making it appropriate for everything from small embedded systems (i.e. just a bash shell and a little bit of supporting libraries) to massive workstations.
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Open Source
  • Performance is really fast.
  • It is portable and easy to take back ups.
  • Its open n source and free.
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Cons
Apache
  • It may not scale as well as some more mature database products.
  • Used it primarily from the command line with openjpa and jdbc, and from third-party clients such as Squirrel.
  • May benefit by providing more sophisticated tools to optimize query performance.
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Open Source
  • Documentation.
  • No GUI tool to view data.
  • Slow via remote access.
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Likelihood to Renew
Apache
No answers on this topic
Open Source
Because it is free and usually zero maintenance. Just the issue of more difficult format updates in the future lower the rating a bit.
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Usability
Apache
No answers on this topic
Open Source
Usability has improved by unifying the architecture. The only thing's missing out of the box is a simple GUI DB tool for viewing DB contents and maybe running some SQL queries.
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Support Rating
Apache
No answers on this topic
Open Source
This is an open source project. It provides a fair amount of free documentation and I think forums somewhere...
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Implementation Rating
Apache
No answers on this topic
Open Source
Even somebody just starting to use RDBMS himself should get it working quickly, at least if he's got a GUI tool and some SQL knowledge.
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Alternatives Considered
Apache
SQLite is another open-source zero-cost file-based SQL-capable database solution and is a good alternative to Apache Derby, especially for non-Java-based solutions. We chose Apache Derby as it is Java-based, and so is the solution we embedded it in. However, SQLite has a similar feature set and is widely used in the industry to serve the same purposes for native solutions such as C or C++-based products.
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Open Source
Because it is having Open Source License and easy to deploy on windows and linux environment
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Return on Investment
Apache
  • Being Open source, the resources spent on the purchase of the product are ZERO.
  • Contrary to popular belief, open source software CAN provide support, provided that the developers/contributors are willing to answer your emails.
  • Overall, the ROI was positive: being able to experiment with an open source technology that could perform on par with the corporate products was promising, and gave us much information about how to proceed in the future.
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Open Source
  • Cost effective saving us from paid relational database.
  • Community support.
  • Efficiency in handling simultaneous connections.
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