whichdb
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jBASE vs OpenQM

jBASE: MultiValue database that compiles Pick BASIC to native code, now part of Rocket's MV portfolio. OpenQM: Compact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product.

key differences

  • jBASE is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than OpenQM (≤ 100 GB).
  • Only jBASE has encryption at rest.

choose jbase for

  • +Core banking and finance packages built on jBASE
  • +Legacy Pick application hosting on modern servers
  • +Consolidating D3 systems onto a supported platform

best at · OLTP

choose openqm for

  • +Hosting small Pick-based business applications
  • +Migrating off ageing Pick systems to commodity servers
  • +Learning the MultiValue model

best at · OLTP

jBASEMultiValue database that compiles Pick BASIC to native code, now part of Rocket's MV portfolio.
OpenQMCompact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product.
overview
Primary model
Multivalue (Pick)
Multivalue (Pick)
Also supports
–
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Rocket Software (formerly Zumasys)
Rocket Software (originally Ladybridge Systems)
First release
1991
1993
Latest version
6.2.2 (Dec 2025)
–
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary (historic GPLv2 community edition)
Free tier
—
✓
popularity
WhichDB Score
1.4
0.2
Rank
#554
#670
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
29
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Small (≤ 100 GB)
Horizontal scaling
None
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
None
ACID
Limited
Limited
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Flexible
Flexible
Architecture
Client server, Single node
Client server, Single node
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
–
capabilities
Transactions
✓
✓
Joins
—
—
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
—
—
Vector search
—
—
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
—
—
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
✓
✓
Stored procedures
—
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
—
—
Encryption at rest
✓
—
Role-based access
—
—
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
—
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
Pick BASIC (jBC), jQL
QMBasic, QM query language
Client languages
C, C++, Java, C#
C, Python, C#, Java
Best for
OLTP
OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

jBASE vs OpenQM: FAQ

What is the difference between jBASE and OpenQM?

jBASE: MultiValue database that compiles Pick BASIC to native code, now part of Rocket's MV portfolio. OpenQM: Compact MultiValue (Pick) database from Ladybridge, once GPL-licensed, now Rocket's entry-level MV product. jBASE is built for larger datasets (≤ 10 TB) than OpenQM (≤ 100 GB). Only jBASE has encryption at rest.

When should I choose jBASE over OpenQM?

Choose jBASE for core banking and finance packages built on jBASE; legacy Pick application hosting on modern servers; and consolidating D3 systems onto a supported platform. Choose OpenQM for hosting small Pick-based business applications, migrating off ageing Pick systems to commodity servers and learning the MultiValue model.

Is jBASE or OpenQM more popular?

jBASE ranks #554 on the WhichDB Score (1.4/100) and OpenQM ranks #670 (0.2/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are jBASE and OpenQM open source?

No. jBASE is proprietary, closed-source software. No. OpenQM is proprietary, closed-source software.