Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!ncis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!bloom-beacon!gatech!emcard!stiatl!john
From: john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Experience with Ctree database
Keywords: database
Message-ID: <2782@stiatl.UUCP>
Date: 18 Jan 89 23:06:11 GMT
References: <15812@joyce.istc.sri.com>
Reply-To: john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond)
Organization: Sales Technologies Inc., Atlanta, GA
Lines: 46

In article <15812@joyce.istc.sri.com> btn@jupiter.UUCP (btn) writes:
>I am looking for a PC database package with a 'C' interface and
>would very much appreciate hearing from anybody's experience with
>this package.  The criterias that are important to me are stability
>of the product, speed, whether it runs well in a network environment
>with multiple users, how good are the tools for debugging and maintaining
>the data base, whether it will handle very large data base (larger
>than 100,000 records per files).  I would also appreciate hearing
>about anybody's experience on other PC database package.  As usual
>good or bad experiences are both welcome.
>
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Bich Nguyen
>(415) 859-2548

I have experience with C-Tree from FairCom and Btrieve.  Quickly,
I do not  like Btrieve at all.  Reasons more numerous to mention here.

I have used C-tree extensively and really like it.  I built a database
server for an on-line system a couple of years ago and was able to service
over 10 queries a second with a compaq 386 (16mhz).  Each inquiry involved
hitting 4 different databases, one of which contained about 200,000 records.

Positive attributes are:  Very fast.  Comes as C source code that you compile.
Available for almost any environment. (Faircomm pays for ports to unsupported
platforms).  Almost bug-free.  Low memory overhead.  No royalties.

Negatives include poor documentation, no example code, you must pay for
bug fix upgrades (well, they'll supply a LISTING free).  Some upgrades 
are distributed as user installed manual patches.  Fair tech support.
Moderately expensive.  A totally bullshit license agreement, so flagrantly
excessive that only the timid pay any attention to it.

C-tree is for those of you who want to get "close to the metal".  It is not
a high level dbase-like library.  On the other hand, you don't pay the
code space and speed penalty for features and generality you may not need.

All told, I'm pleased with the package.

john

-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC                     | "I can't drive 85!"
Sales Technologies, Inc.    Atlanta, GA    | Sammy Hagar driving 
...!gatech!stiatl!john                     | thru Atlanta!