Why create a DataBlade module?

You can extend your HCL Informix® database server without creating a DataBlade® module by executing the SQL statements to create each object individually. However, the advantages of packaging extended database objects in a DataBlade module are control and code reuse.

Control

DataBlade modules contain all related extended objects, enabling you to easily install, upgrade, and remove a whole module at once. If you need to fix a problem or add a feature to a program, you only have to do it in one place-the DataBlade module. Because a DataBlade module is a package ready to be distributed commercially or internally, these changes can be easily extended to any application that uses the DataBlade module. In addition, DataBlade modules make it easy for you to maintain version information about the software.

Code reuse

DataBlade modules can use the functionality of other DataBlade modules through interfaces. Interfaces are references to other DataBlade modules. When you include an interface in a DataBlade module, you create a dependency so that your DataBlade module can be used only if the DataBlade module that provides the interface is installed in the database server.