Open Source Databases for WP7
Posted on June 30, 2010 by Chris Koenig
One of the most frequent questions I get about the WP7 platform is “when are we going to get local database support?” Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Open Source community, there are now several alternatives for local database support on WP7:
- Windows Phone 7 database
http://winphone7db.codeplex.com/
Hosted on CodePlex, this project implements a Isolated Storage (IsolatedStorage) based database for Windows Phone 7. The database consists of table objects, each one supporting any number of columns. - Perst Embedded Database For Microsoft Windows Phone 7
http://www.mcobject.com/perst_eval
Perst is an open source / dual license embedded database for .NET and .NET Compact Framework. Andy Wigley, an APPA Mundi principal and Microsoft MVP, wrote a blog post outlining some of the changes he made to the open source database which have now been incorporated back into the mainline build at McObject. - db4o Open Source Object Database
http://developer.db4o.com/
db4o is an object-based database (as opposed to a relational database) designed for use in Silverlight and .NET applications. Since there is Silverlight 3 support, it *should* work on WP7. I’ve downloaded it and proved that it will launch a WP7 app with the db40 DLLs referenced, but haven’t tried really exercising the toolset yet. I’ll update the post when I have more data to share. - siaqodb Open Source Object Database
http://siaqodb.com/
siaqodb is an object database engine that currently runs on .NET 3.5+, Mono 2.4+, Silverlight 3 and 4 as well as WP7. It’s database management application allows you to use LINQ to run ad-hoc queries against the database, which is kind of a cool and unique feature.
It looks like I’m going to have to do a WP7 Database Smackdown at some point and share the results with you.
Comments (14)








You forgot to mention a pretty popular option, db4o:
http://developer.db4o.com/Platforms/dotNET/Wind…
This site reports Windows Phone but not specifically Windowes Phone 7. As a matter of fact, one of the illustrations mensions WM6. Is this in fact a Windows Mobile rather than a WP7 application?
Good point! I didn't know about that one. I'll update the post and add db4o.
/ck
You also not mentioned siaqodb ( http://siaqodb.com); was first database provider that announce support for WP7
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I just checked into the pricing for a commercial license of Perst and was shocked to learn that it is $500 for a stand alone WP7 app, plus there is a nominal run time cost per installation that you buy in bulk. Have to say I'll be looking elsewhere for a DB solution.
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Thanks!
Chris
[...] [...]
http://sterling.codeplex.com/
Why aren’t any of the established database technologies available? (SQLite, SQLServerCE, JETCE.)
Funny you should ask: http://winphonesqlite.codeplex.com/
Hey Chris,
I know this is an older post, but I want to mention that I noticed that while Perst is open source, it’s not free ($395) which is not the case for the others.
Jay Kimble
[...] Open Source Databases for WP7 « Development « Chris Koenig. [...]
Db4o indeed is not available for WP7 due to a bug in WP7 platform which after 5 months has no been able to solve.
This is the answer from Microsoft
https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/618090/runtimehelpers-gethashcode-is-calling-the-inherited-gethashcode-version-instead-of-object-gethashcode
This is the Db4o forum where the problem is described
http://developer.db4o.com/Forums/tabid/98/aft/10109/Default.aspx