FreeForm OODB

Supports Object Evolution

As a database ages and designs change, database objects may need to change too. FreeForm OODB accommodates this with object evolution. Object evolution allows database objects to grow in size.

Without object evolution, adding a data member to a storable object class would render objects of that class (previously stored in a database container) useless. In other words, you would be unable to retrieve them from the database. You would also be unable to overwrite objects previously stored in the database. Setting the correct parameter allows you to save and retrieve objects even if the object class has increased in size.

An object oriented database is not useless without this ability. But is certainly makes it difficult to deploy an oodb application and then provide upgrades to that application.