For many years I have been tracking the development of the Firebird Database Engine and have watched it move from its 1.5 version to its most recent release, version 3.0.3.

On a number of occasions I have attempted to work with this database engine.  And though I have many years of extensive database application development with quite a few database engines, Firebird always seem to allude my attempts at mastering it. 

From major to minor "gotchas" from a lack of good introductory documentation regarding the many differences between this database engine and its many contemporaries, which more or less towed a standardized SQL line, even with the many enhancements made to any one engine, Firebird frustrated my efforts to the point on these occasions where I decided the efforts in learning it were simply not justified.

Nonetheless, Firebird still beckoned as mastering it was an accomplishment I still wanted to achieve.  As a result, seeing the mostly negative aspects of using Microsoft's SQL Server LocalDB for a desktop application I have been developing, I decided to "bite the bullet" and somehow find a way to teach myself Firebird in order take advantage of its excellent embedded engine also known as the Firebird Embedded Server.

The result of this endeavor, which has been very successful so far, is a detailed article that attempts to make it much easier for experienced professionals to learn Firebird who also, like I, have many years of development experience with other database engines.  The article points out the many differences when using this engine for scripting within query and action screens in a db-manager or creating database modules with Firebird PSQL that can drive even experienced professionals to the point of distraction.  Hopefully, my experiences will help such professionals who want to master Firebird as well a much easier learning experience.

The article can be found at the following link for everyone's review...

https://blackfalconsoftware.wordpress.com/2018/05/11/the-firebird-database-engine-the-frustrations-of-the-long-distance-database-application-developer/

Admittedly, there may be some mistakes in this piece since it was developed around my own learning experiences with this database engine.  As a result, if anyone has any comments, corrections, or suggestions please let me know at my email address...  blackfalconsoftware@...

In addition, if anyone would like a PDF copy of this piece, please let me know as well and I will prepare one and send it out...