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VistaDB vs. MSDE & SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

The Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) also known as SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) is a smaller, stripped down version of SQL Server. Unlike VistaDB, the 70MB footprint for the MSDE is still too big for most small to midsize database applications. The focus of VistaDB is not to compete with the MSDE, nor with SQL Server 2005 Express, which is the next incarnation of the MSDE. VistaDB is an ideal solution when the MSDE is too big or overkill for an application.

Syntax and datatypes are the same

VistaDB offers many of the advanced features found in the MSDE, such as TSQL datatypes and syntax, and true referential integrity, so working with both VistaDB and the MSDE is easy. VistaDB features massive storage capacity and supports 4 billion records per table, where as the MSDE supports 2 billion records per table. Additionally, unlike the MSDE, VistaDB includes a visual Data Builder utility for creating and managing databases and a Data Migration Wizard for migrating data to VistaDB.

The MSDE is designed primarily to let developers test their SQL Server applications on client machines without requiring to install the full edition of SQL Server. The MSDE also acts as an evaluation edition of SQL Server in the hopes that users will eventually upgrade to the full version of SQL Server.

The MSDE is a very powerful database since it is essentially a stripped down edition of SQL Server, but all this power comes at a price in terms of overhead and size. The MSDE is often overkill in both features and footprint for building small to midsize database applications.

MSDE is 100 times larger install

The MSDE is 78MB installed, which is over 100 times bigger than VistaDB's small 700KB footprint. There are over 200 core files that comprise the installed MSDE, compared to only 2 files that make up VistaDB's core engine. The MSDE requires installation and configuration which makes deployment of the MSDE a complicated process. Copy 'n Go!™ deployment means VistaDB can be deployed using XCopy or FTP with zero configuration. VistaDB can even be FTP'd up to a shared ASP.NET host (shared web server) without any additional configuration.

MSDE modifcations by third parties

In addition the primary reason for support calls with MSDE applications is a third party application accidentally updating or modifying the schema of the MSDE installation. This cannot happen with VistaDB because your database lives with your application. If your application is not running, you are using zero resources on the client machine. MSDE is always resident and using memory even if your application is not loaded.

With a 70+MB footprint, distributing the MSDE is not a viable option for developers building .NET applications that get distributed over the Internet. Asking your end users to download the MSDE introduces an unnecessary obstacle to potential customers looking to evaluate your software or to existing customers looking to get updates. And after downloading the MSDE, it still needs to be installed and configured. Too many needless obstacles which causes people to avoid downloading your software. The MSDE also features various licensing restrictions which may not suitable for distributing applications.

MSDE is just too big for most desktop database applications

In summary, .NET developers cannot ignore the MSDE's large size, overhead and complex deployment requirements, which ultimately make the MSDE an unsuitable database solution for building small or midsize .NET database applications. For these projects, turn to VistaDB.

Compare to SQL Compact

You may also want to view our SQL Compact comparison page for a more detailed comparison.