IndexedDB applications

What's this IndexedDB all about?

This is an emerging technology (2012) that enables web browsers to store a substantial amount of data locally. It differs from localStorage by being indexed and stored behind the scenes in a 'real' database. The program can be centrally maintained on the web with no installation hassle while the user's data stays on their machine.

Not the same as other databases
There's no business of connecting to a server.
It doesn't restrict itself to rigid columns.
There's no real relational element.
It doesn't understand SQL.
The API is rather weird for someone who is used to setting up a query, calling it and processing the response. Everything is done asynchronously with callback functions. (Yuk!)

Demonstration

here

You can of course look at the source Javascript.

It imported 400 records a minute on a Pentium 4 which isn't all that fast but OK for many things.

The limited functionality is actually what was required by the end-user.

There's no attempt to make this cross-browser compliant. The end-user has Firefox so I'm happy.

This doesn't use blobs but some implementations support them.

I'll investigate wrappers that make indexedDB simpler to use, because I like the idea of installation-free desktop apps.

What's this IndexedDB all about?

Demonstration

Conclusion