Hughes Technologies has produced mSQL (or Mini SQL). This is a ‘light-weight relational database management system that has been designed to provide rapid access to data sets with as little system overhead as possible’. The system is comprised of a database server that will run on most Unix platforms together with various tools that allow a user or a client application to communicate with the server. Use of mSQL in any commercial environment requires the purchase of a license from Hughes Technologies. However, free licenses are provided to organisations such as Universities, schools and registered charities. For more details about mSQL, see http://www.Hughes.com.au.

George Reese, a software engineer from Minneapolis, provides a free JDBC driver for mSQL. This can be downloaded from the WWW page http://www.imaginary.com/Java/.