eWeek reports that the forthcoming OpenOffice 2.0 will include a java-based SQL-backend (HSQL) and “OpenOffice Base” a user-friendly database front-end:
Starting with 2.0, however, OpenOffice will include the open-source HSQL database engine.
HSQL is a Java-based database. It is an SQL (structured query language) DBMS engine that’s also designed for use with JDBC (Java DataBase Connect). As such, it’s a database designer tool, not an office-worker tool.
To make HSQL useful to office-users, OpenOffice 2.0 will include a user-friendly front end, OpenOffice Base. With this, users can access existing dBASE, Microsoft Access and MySQL databases, among others. It also can be used to create databases. OpenOffice Base also includes easy-to-use report, form and query creation wizards.
Now, it starts to get interesting.
Its too bad HSQL is a lousy database, with a so-so dev track record. There were other embedded Java dbs to choose, oh well.