The Firebird Book: A Guide for Database Developers is a comprehensive, practical guide for developing client/server FirebirdSQL database applications for small and large networks of users. FirebirdSQL is an open source database, and while not as popular as MySQL or PostgreSQL, it has a dedicated following, and has far more advanced features.
Firebird is a powerful, compact client/server SQL relational database management
system (RDBMS) that can run on a variety of server and client operating system
platforms, including Windows, Linux, and several other UNIX platforms, including
FreeBSD and Mac OS X. It is an industrial-strength RDBMS that features a high level
of compliance with SQL standards, while implementing some powerful language
features in the vendor-specific sphere of procedure programming.
Developers with some database experience, who may be moving to client/server
for the first time, will discover all of the basics they need to become productive with
Firebird in this book. Although not a primary tutorial on SQL or database design,
this guide emphasizes good client/server RDBMS design practice and documents
Firebird’s SQL definition, manipulation, and programming language sets with plenty
of detail, insider tips, and examples.
Firebird is serious software designed for deployment on networks small and
large, and it has some useful capabilities for stand-alone configurations. Its small
footprint makes it easy for sole developers to do large enterprise development from
a home office. For the database administrator or system designer, the book is a basic
installation, configuration, tuning, security, and tools resource. Firebird’s strengths
and high compliance with standards make it an attractive medium for university-level
IT study. The book will serve amply as a resource for second- and third-year computer
science students using Firebird for assignment work.
For those who have been using Firebird 1.0.x or InterBase until now, The Firebird
Book introduces the security, language, and optimizer enhancements that were added
with the v.1.5 release.
