SQL Anywhere is a product designed to let you access data literally anywhere you can take a computer, no matter what kind of computer you have. The “computer” could be anything from a smart phone to the desktop unit in your office. You can also use SQL Anywhere on a number of platforms, including both Windows and Linux (you’ll find a complete listing of platforms and product support at http://www.sybase.com/detail?id=1002288).

Although I didn’t actually test the Linux version as part of this review, I’ve been assured by the vendor that the Windows and Linux versions provide the same capabilities. A .NET developer can attach to a SQL Anywhere database on Linux with the same ease as a Windows setup.

Different Database Management Systems (DBMSs) offer different capabilities, which is why some organizations mix and match DBMSs as needed to obtain precisely the package they want. The forte of SQL Anywhere is that it’s small and flexible. The company envisions that you’ll use it to provide connectivity to data from locations where such connectivity is hard to obtain, such as on a production floor or with an employee on the road. The Sybase documentation lists uses such as point of sale, inventory control, and field service work as potential applications for SQL Anywhere. Given what I found during my review, I agree that SQL Anywhere has a definite place as a connectivity DBMS in most organizations—at least if you have employees or applications that tend to be out of touch with the home office regularly.