# Apache Derby

**Canonical:** https://apis.io/providers/apache-derby/  
**Website:** https://db.apache.org/derby/  
**APIs profiled:** 1

Apache Derby is an open-source relational database implemented entirely in Java, formerly governed by the Apache Software Foundation (retired October 2025). It provides a small-footprint (~3.5MB) database engine with full SQL support, JDBC compliance, ACID transactions, stored procedures, and triggers. Derby operates in both embedded mode (bundled inside Java applications) and client/server mode via the Derby Network Server.

## Kin Score — 24.2 / 100 (emerging)

Scored 2026-08-20 under rubric 0.12.0. Trend: flat (+0.0 from 24.2).

| Facet | Score |
|---|---|
| Discoverability | 59.3 |
| Contract Quality | 25.4 |
| Governance | 9.8 |
| Contract Governance | 9.8 |
| Operational Transparency | 10.5 |
| Developer Ergonomics | 31.0 |
| Commercial Clarity | 15.8 |
| Access Clarity | 15.8 |

## Agent readiness — 3.0 (human-only)

| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Spec Presence | no |
| Agentic Access | no |
| Reversibility Documented | no |
| MCP Server | no |
| Auth Clarity | no |
| Idempotency | no |
| Error Semantics | no |
| OpenAPI Examples | no |
| Rate Limit Signal | documented |
| Event Surface Described | no |
| Agent Skills | no |
| Well Known Catalog | no |
| Consent Identity | no |
| Agent Card | no |
| Dry Run Mode | no |

## Access

Freemium — onboarding: unknown, pricing: freemium, trial: no (confidence: medium).

## APIs (1)

- **Apache Derby** — Derby provides a standard JDBC API for database operations in both embedded (org.apache.derby.jdbc.EmbeddedDriver) and client/server (org.apache.derby.jdbc.ClientDriver) modes, ...

## Security (2)

- **Apache Derby Domain Security** — TLSv1.3 · HSTS · DMARC
- **Apache Derby Vulnerability Disclosure** — security.txt · contact published

## Plans (1)

- **Apache Derby Plans Pricing**

## Use cases (4)

- **Embedded Application Database** — Embed Derby in desktop Java applications, IDEs, or tools that need a local SQL database without a separate server.
- **Unit and Integration Testing** — Use Derby as an in-memory or on-disk test database for Java application integration tests with JDBC.
- **Lightweight Development Database** — Use Derby as a development database when production uses a heavier RDBMS, without installing MySQL or PostgreSQL.
- **Data Migration and ETL** — Use Derby as a staging database for ETL processes in Java-based data pipelines.

## Tags

Apache, Database, Embedded, Java, JDBC, Open-Source, Relational, SQL

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Profiled by [API Evangelist](https://apievangelist.com) and published on [APIs.io](https://apis.io/providers/apache-derby/). Scores are computed from the provider's own public artifacts under a published rubric.