Question

I´m creating an application in visual studio 2008, C#, that uses a DB.
The DB is designed in SQL Server 2008.
Think of it as a simple standalone app (not a web solution) where the user can store data about her books, like height, weight, language, and so on. Well, I´m creating another kind of app, but as an example it´s ok.

Now, the question is, how do I deliver this to the user.
I don´t want the user to download a SQL Server package, I just want the user to click on the “setup.exe” and everything should work without any more downloads and installations!
Is it possible to “embed” the DB in a “software delivery” towards a user that have no SQL Server installed?

Note, the user should have the DB / SW app on her own computer for “own use”, not on a server.

Answer 1

SQL Server Compact Edition was made for just that. You can have this as part of your setup.exe and the user will never know that an RDMBS is resident.