Source Availability Need the code?  We offer it!  There are many reasons for needing the VistaDB source code. VistaDB is written in Dot Net (C#), so you don’t have to worry about learning an entire new language to support your database engine in the future. No escrow required Many companies face regulatory and public law restrictions on their usage of third party tools or components.  In the past this was usually dealt with through an Escrow of the code.  The Escrow process means getting your legal department involved and the obstacles to actually getting the code if it is ever required are sometimes more expensive than the original price of the code.  Version and support lifetimes Sometimes your company just cannot afford to upgrade to the latest version of a tool just because the support for it is running out.  Many companies have been stuck in the past when a product they have deployed is suddenly dropped from their vendor.  What if a new operating system or service pack comes out that breaks the component?  Normally you are forced to upgrade, or obsolete your system.  In the few times you can even purchase the code what are the chances it is even written in a system your company even knows how to program?  What if you were suddenly forced to find a 10 year old compiler that is different from what you use in your own product?  We use Visual Studio 2005 to build VistaDB. No third party tools or components are required. Learning opportunity What if you are just the curious type and want to see how big and complex projects are built in Dot Net?  Plenty of large C++ and other language projects exist to study, but what about C#?  VistaDB is written in C# and had been studied by Microsoft MVP’s and partners as a case study multiple times.  The design and architecture follows Microsoft best practices and makes an excellent learning tool on how to build large scale systems in your organization. Debugging help Sometimes having the code is just as helpful for debugging.  Getting a strange exception back and not sure why?  What if you could step into the code and see exactly where the error occurs.  Microsoft is going to start doing this with some parts of the Dot Net framework itself.  Sometimes it is just as helpful to dig into an area to see why a certain programming tactic performs better than another.  Looking at the code can be very helpful in optimizing your own applications. Customization Some companies do not want their customers to know they use any third party components.  Or maybe you have specific security needs, or functions that no other database provides.  Through the use of the source code you can extend the VistaDB database engine however you need.  Deploying a SQL Server at a client location is sometimes a support nightmare.  Who patched it last, did the permissions get changed?  You don’t control the server, so you don’t always know.  By embedding VistaDB into your application you can prevent tampering with your applications data in the field to whatever level you need. Use the Source! Yes, we like partners who use the source.  We had gotten back a number of good questions, and even pointers to areas of the code with questions about how to fix things.  These are very good for us and for you.  Users who take the time to use the code during debugging will understand at a much better level what it takes to get better performance on the engine. The Source Edition sale for subscribers is going for just a few more days.