Timeline for database engine on Roadmap?

[cavenewt]

From Lesson 3 Q&A:

Q: A new database engine was one of the kickstarter stretch goals. Will this mean things change or get easier? Perhaps more built in objects and functions?
A: It will make things easier, and more transparent. You can see the roadmap at http://livecode.com/community/roadmap/

The database engine is the last thing on the roadmap queue. I wonder if you have even a rough idea of when this might happen? Months, years?

Just trying to figure out how much time to spend learning the current implementation. Some of us aren't getting any younger

[FourthWorld]

I have my own pet reasons for being excited about the prospect of a new DB interface, but I'm curious: what are yours?

[cavenewt]

I have my own pet reasons for being excited about the prospect of a new DB interface, but I'm curious: what are yours?

I've had only minimal direct interaction with mySQL databases; most of my experience is in FileMaker without using external databases. So I'm pretty much a complete newb in this area. I'm hoping the new LC database engine will minimize the number of mySQL commands I will have to learn. I can see the advantage an external database would have over an integral one, though this is something I need to go read more about.

What are your reasons?

[FourthWorld]

For most basic operations you only need a few commands: revOpenDatabase, revDataFromQuery, revExecuteSQL, and revCloseDatabase. Of course, being SQL, there's some of that to learn, but unless you're using complex joins most of it is fairly straightforward.

I'd like to see two sets of things:
1. Smart syntax that shields the scripter from having to learn any SQL for basic tasks. Reformatting data for SQL is a drag. Sure, it's not difficult, but tedious, and many of my DBs are just flat tables with no relationality, so for those tasks there should be no need to be using SQL directly. That's one library we all write, and it would be great if the engine could just take care of that for us.

2. SQLite is an amazing marvel of a package, with optional APIs for full-text search, direct use of its b-tree facilities, and more. I'd love to see some of that exposed to us LC scripters.

[MarcVanCauwenberghe]

@FourthWorld
Any reason why there should be a new db engine? Sqlite is almost a standard in the mobile environment and used a lot in desktop also.
The use of a web service between Livecode and any database is possible and also used a lot. Maybe some kind of enhancement to the
mySQL-only build database access could be of use.

Marc

[MarcVanCauwenberghe]

Seems you answered before I even asked the question

Marc

[bangkok]

My 2 wishes :

-native support of MS SQL databases ( = more native drivers)

-better/more automatic handling of error messages