Question

I have been under the understanding that database connections are best used and closed. However with SQLite Im not sure that this applies. I do all the queries with a Using Connection statment. So it is my understanding that I open a connection and then close it doing this. When it comes to SQLite and optimal usage, is it better to open one permament connection for the duration of the program being in use or do I continue to use the method that I currently use.

I am using the database for a VB.net windows program with a fairly large DB of about 2gig.

My current method of connection example

  Using oMainQueryR As New SQLite.SQLiteCommand
            oMainQueryR.CommandText = ("SELECT * FROM CRD")
            Using connection As New SQLite.SQLiteConnection(conectionString)
                Using oDataSQL As New SQLite.SQLiteDataAdapter
                    oMainQueryR.Connection = connection
                    oDataSQL.SelectCommand = oMainQueryR
                    connection.Open()
                    oDataSQL.FillSchema(crd, SchemaType.Source)
                    oDataSQL.Fill(crd)
                    connection.Close()
                End Using
            End Using
    End Using

Answer 1

As with all things database, it depends. In this specific case of sqlite, there are two “depends” you need to look at:

1. Are you the only user of the database?
2. When are implicit transactions committed?

For the first item, you probably want to open/close different connections frequently if there are other users of the database or if it’s all possible that more than process will be hitting your sqlite database file at the same time.

For the second item, I’m not sure how sqlite specifically behaves. Some database engines don’t commit implicit transactions until the connection is closed. If this is the case for sqlite, you probably want to be closing your connection a little more often.

The idea that connections should be short-lived in .Net applies mainly to Microsoft Sql Server, because the .Net provider for Sql Server is also able to take advantage of a feature known as connection pooling. Outside of Sql Server this advice is not entirely without merit, but it’s not as much of a given.