alternate to SQL Server Compact Edition

Question

Hello, Is there an alternate to SQL Server Compact Edition which won't be supported by MS beyond July 2021. It is needed for our Windows Desktop product built in C#.Net.

Answer 1

Hi,

SQL Server Express is a free edition of SQL Server, ideal for development and production for desktop, web, and small server applications

Answer 2

SQLite, VistaDB

Answer 3

Thanks @ErikEJ and @Cris Zhan-MSFT for your recommendations.

Still, I have a couple of questions regarding SQLServer CE:

1. If SQLServer CE is still continued to use in our product, will there be any issues/impact on our product beyond July 2021?
2. If yes, what kind of impacts we can anticipate ?

@Cris Zhan-MSFT , we have concerns over using SQL Server Express.

as per https://dzone.com/articles/comparison-sql-server-compact

1. size (>120 MB), and
2. unlike CE it doesn't run in the same application process

these are major pain points going with SQL Server express.

Please help me to get clarity on these queries.

Answer 4

re 1; No one can predict the future! But I am guessing that SQL CE 4.0 will continue to work on Windows for years to come.

re 2: A potential impact could be a change in Windows preventing SQL CE from working, but I think that is quite unlikely.