Tuesday, July 26, 2011

What does the Mango update mean for Ninja Database Pro?

Microsoft has recently released the Mango update for Windows Phone 7 which now includes SQL Server Compact Edition.  I have had some prospects say that they no longer need Ninja Database Pro because Microsoft is going to provide a database for Windows Phone 7.  While this is wonderful that Microsoft is providing a database, Kellerman Software is still fully committed to supporting and delivering future versions of Ninja Database Pro.  Here is why:

  • Ninja Database Pro has a consistent API across Windows Phone 7, Silverlight, and the Desktop.  The SQL Server CE does not actually use SQL.  There is no SQL Server CE for Silverlight.  On the desktop, there is LINQ to SQL but Microsoft is replacing that with the entity framework.  That means you need essentially three different databases for each platform.  That is a lot of code to maintain vs. using a single API with Ninja Database Pro.
  • Ninja Database Pro is easier to use.  With the Mango SQL Server CE, class properties are decorated with attributes to map to a table.  Ninja Database Pro does not need any mapping, database creation, or table setup.  Again, less code to maintain.
  • Ninja Database Pro has a smaller footprint on the desktop. 
  • Ninja Database Pro requires no setup, it is serverless.  On the desktop, SQL Server can be difficult to setup due to permissions issues.  SQL Server may require complex configuration in the installer, depending on the application needs.
Ninja Database Pro is here to stay.

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