What is Java DB?

What is Java DB?
Java DB is Sun's supported distribution of the open source Apache Derby 100% Java technology database. It is fully transactional, secure, easy-to-use, standards-based — SQL, JDBC API, and Java EE — yet small, only 2MB. The Apache Derby project has a strong and growing community that includes developers from large companies such as Sun Microsystems and IBM as well as individual contributors.

"We think Derby's best "feature" is its wide domain of applicability - that is it can be used anywhere from say a very small embedded database like say SQLite, all the way up to concurrent database applications matching MySQL, etc.," says Matt Doran of PaperCut Software.
"I recently did a presentation about Apache Derby at the Australian Java User's Group meeting in Melbourne. The presentation was titled "Using Apache Derby in the real world". Its focus was not so much on how to use Derby, but where it can be used and how it stands up in real world applications. We use Derby in our print accounting application called PaperCut, and feel that it's one of the "gems" of the Java community. Even though we offer a choice of MS SQL Server, Oracle and Postgres within PaperCut, we find that 90% of our 10,000+ users stick with Derby - the default embedded option."
Download the presentation for more information.

Where is Java DB in Sun Products?Java DB is currently included with the Java SE Development Kit; Java Enterprise System as the Application Server's developer database, and the Portal Server and Service Registry's data stores; it is supported by NetBeans 5.0, Java Studio Enterprise and Java Studio Creator; and, it is included as the out-of-the-box development database in the Sun Java Application Server PE 8.2 and the open community Glassfish implementation.

Java DB is ideal for:Departmental Java client-server applications that need up to 24 x 7 support and the sophistication of a standards-based, transactional SQL database that protects against data corruption or systems crashes without also requiring a database administrator.
Java application development and testing because it's full-featured though extremely easy-to-use, can fit on a laptop or run on a mainframe, and it's available at no cost under the Apache license.
Embedding in applications so that there is no need for the developer or the end-user to buy / download, install, administer — or even be aware of — the database separately from the application or IDE.
Multi-platform use due to Java portability. And, because Java DB is fully standards-compliant and 100% Java, it is easy to migrate an application using Java DB to other open standard databases.
Use within browser-based, Web (2.0) applications for easy distribution, one-click install, secure local data storage, and data persistence if the Internet connection is lost or for use off-line.
Applications running in a J2ME CDC (e.g., PDA) environment that need a small size (2MB) without sacrificing functionality: full SQL support, transaction management, stored procedures, triggers, concurrency, and backups.