Microsoft is enabling its free SQL CE (SQL Server Compact Edition) database to work inside ASP.Net Web applications, therefore given that a frivolous database choice for ASP.Net Web expansion, a Microsoft official said this week.

ASP.Net is a Web framework. SQL CE is an entrenched database engine allows simple database storage, said Scott Guthrie, commercial vice president in Microsoft Developer Division, in a blog post this week.

"We will be lunching first public beta of SQL CE Version 4 very soon. Version 4 has been designed and tested to work inside ASP.Net Web applications," Guthrie said. "Applications you build can reallocate SQL CE as part of them. Just copy your Web application onto some server, and it will work," said Guthrie.

"SQL CE 4 offers an simple, lightweight database choice that you'll currently be able to utilize with ASP.Net applications.  It will allow you to get started on projects speedily devoid of having to install a full database on your local development box," Guthrie said.

SQL CE works with .Net-based data APIs and supports query syntax similar to SQL Server. Developers can use obtainable data APIs, such as ADO.Net, plus technologies like Entity Framework with SQL CE, Guthrie said.