There was with its SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE), the cut-down version of its SQL Server product, which suffered from performance and capacity limits, and a lack of management tools.
But that's all history, writes Alan Stevens, because, with the launch of SQL Server 2005 last year, Microsoft replaced MSDE with a free, yet full, implementation of its database engine, called SQL Server 2005 Express.
There are still a few catches of course. SQL Express, for example, can only use one processor, whereas MSDE supported two, and it can't store data in more than 1GB of memory, compared to 2GB previously. Plus there's still a database size limit, although this has been raised to 4GB.
But there's plenty of good news. Out goes the workload throttle, which stopped more than five concurrent tasks being handled, and the MSDE connection limits, while the SQL Server 2005 engine itself is much nimbler than its predecessor.
It's also a full implementation, complete with support for the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and new XML data types.
Whereas MSDE only had a command-line interface, Microsoft has announced a free set of graphical management tools to go with SQL Express - SQL Server Management Studio Express.
We downloaded both large packages and (53MB for SQL Express and 30MB for the Management Studio) and they need to be installed onto a well-specified PC running Windows 2000 (SP4 ), XP or Windows Server 2003.
A silent install option is still available - important if distributing with another application but it's important to register if you intend to distribute the database with your own software, although client licences aren't required.
The new database is now tightly locked down, which means having to explicitly enable remote access using named pipes or TCP/IP. But that's easily done, and once installed the SQL engine runs as a background service, with a simple management utility to stop and start it and fine-tune the various parameters.
Management Studio Express can then be installed separately, adding tools to create databases, design queries, edit data and take backups.
For developers, full integration with Visual Studio 2005 also comes as standard, and there's a free Express edition of that until 6 November 2006.
SQL Server 2005 Express is a welcome addition to a growing band of free database servers, which now includes Oracle as well as MySQL and other open-source products.
Performance and capacity limits mean it can't be used for everything, but if you're a small software developer it's a no-brainer.
It's also great for demonstrations, and for supporting a growing list of applications that need a database to run, such as network inventory tools and content management systems, where the cost of a full SQL Server licence might otherwise put such applications out of reach. ?
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