DBD::Sprite is a DBI extension module adding database emulation via flat-files to Perl's database-independent database interface. Unlike other DBD::modules, DBD::Sprite does not require you to purchase or obtain a database.

Every thing you need to prototype database-independent applications using Perl and DBI are included here. You will, however, probably wish to obtain a real database, such as "mysql", for your production and larger data needs. This is because emulating databases and SQL with flat text files gets very slow as the size of your "database" grows to a non-trivial size (a few dozen records or so per table).

The main advantage of DBD::Sprite is the ability to develop and test prototype applications on personal machines (or other machines which do not have an Oracle licence or some other "mainstream" database) before releasing them on "production" machines which do have a "real" database. This can all be done with minimal or no changes to your Perl code.

DBD::Sprite provides the ability to emulate basic database tables and SQL calls via flat-files. The primary use envisioned for this to permit website developers who can not afford to purchase an Oracle licence to prototype and develop Perl applications on their own equipment for later hosting at larger customer sites where Oracle is used.