[Hsqldb-developers] Latest Code Updates - Builds, Features and Performance

[fredt <fr...@us...>]

Major updates have been committed to the CVS hsqldb-dev module.

Blaine's Solaris package build, which supports sparc, i386 and ppc platforms
(tag hsqldb_1_7_1_EXT). The built package is available in the file download
section of the site.

Sebastian's support for ON UPDATE CASCADE. (tag HEAD)

My work on incorporating Karl's patch for binary inserts and dumps as a new
binary *.script format. (tag HEAD) The new command, SET LOGTYPE 0 or 1 sets
the *.script file format to text (0) or binary (1) Text mode is identical to
the current logging scheme. Binary mode results in the *.script file being
written in a more compact and faster-to-load binary format at SHUTDOWN or
CHECKPOINT. This results in at least a 100% increase in startup speed (and
less in shutdown) for memory tables. I have not incorporated some of Karl's
optimisations which would result in even better performance.

I have also used the opportunity to speed up string read and writes from the
*.data file. When tables contain a few CHAR type columns, a general speedup
of around 10% can be expected in all operations with cached tables.

All the new enhancements need more tests. Please try and report any
findings.

Fred Toussi