Custom ODBC and JDBC Driver SDK for Any Data Source
Reduce time-to-market, development cost and risk for your custom ODBC and JDBC drivers with the Simba SDK

The Magnitude Simba SDK increases developer productivity and allows you to build custom ODBC and JDBC connectors in as few as five days.
The same SimbaESoftware Development Kit (SDK) that our engineering team uses to develop Simba connectors is available for you to develop your custom ODBC/JDBC connector for any SQL-enabled or NoSQL data source. With Simba SDK, you reduce cost, complexity, risks, and time to market compared to developing a connector from scratch.
The Simba SDK provides:
Speed of development
Develop a connector proof-of-concept in just five days.
Flexibility
Deploy your connector as a client-side, client-server or cloud solution.
Extensibility
Connect your applications to any data source, be it SQL, NoSQL or proprietary.
Application compatibility
Major data applications like Tableau, Power BI, Alteryx and Informatica embed Simba-developed connectors in their own products.
Developer Friendly
Sample connectors for SQL capable and non-SQL capable with full source code.
Proven
Partners like Cloudera, Microsoft, Teradata, SAP and MapR embed Simba-developed connectors in their own products.
How it Works
The Simba SDK provides you with a complete set of components to quickly, easily and cost-effectively implement the connector that meets your data connectivity requirements. The SDK includes all the components you need to deploy your ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET, or OLE DB connector as a single tier or client/server, standards-based solution as quickly as 5 days. Using our comprehensive documentation, you can include an array of pre-defined functionality to easily deploy a fully optimized connector ideally suited to your specific requirements.
What’s New
The new Java SQL Engine allows the creation of a pure Java JDBC connector. It provides a streamlined development experience and better performance. Pure Java development stack also allows for easier deployment and maintenance.
The new wire protocol has been significantly enhanced making it over twice as fast as the Postgres wire protocol and gives you the fastest performance available to showcase the power of your data source with reduced development effort.
Time to Market. When you build a connector in C++ or C# with Simba SDK, you can build one data store interface implementation and get ODBC, JDBC, and ADO.NET connectors with no extra effort. Simba SDK gives you the fastest time to market and significantly reduces development and maintenance costs.
Other new features and improvements:
- Exact Numeric Precision enhancements
- Support for data compression of retrieved data
- Sample connector improvements on Mac OS X
- Performance improvements to C++ SQL Engine
- JDBC 4.2 compliance
- Support for AIX 7.2, Xcode 12.4, Visual Studio 2019 and 2022, and Windows 10
- SimbaClient and SimbaServer performance and configuration improvements
- Improved Makefiles
- Max OS X Installer
- Support for .NET Core and .NET Standard 2.0 for building cross-platform ADO.Net providers
Features
Best-in-Class Standards Support
- ODBC 3.8 support, including full asynchronous execution.
- JDBC 4.2, 4.1 and 4.0 support
- ADO.NET support
- OLE DB support
- Certified Tableau Integration
- Kerberos support
Flexible and Extensible
- Flexible collation support: Filter and sort string data in any order that your data store supports
- Auto Configuration of Connector Managers: Save your customers’ setup time for different Connector Managers
- Custom aggregate function support: If an aggregate function is not supported by default, add support for it via your data source
- ODBC 3.8 C Data Type Extensibility
- Support for dynamic schema
SQL Engine Features
- Full custom scalar function support: If a scalar function is not supported by default, you can easily implement
- Data Manipulation Language (INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE)
- Data Definition Language (CREATE/DROP)
- Advanced performance capabilities. Pass-down SQL processing to your backend (i.e. Joins, filtering, aggregation, etc.)
Productivity
- Quickstart and ultralight connector samples/templates and guide
- Responsive customer support
Other Features
- Full Unicode support for data, metadata and API parameters
- Native support for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems
- Supports client-server architectures
- Fully localizable error messages
- Ability to fully rebrand Simba Clients
- ODBC 3.8 Support
Simba SDK supports the ODBC 3.8 specification, plus custom metadata and attributes for greater flexibility. - Unicode Support
Simba SDK provides Unicode support for character sets of all international languages. This allows your customers to access their data in virtually any language, resulting in the widest interoperability. Unicode-capable ODBC connectors also improve performance and remove the restrictions inherent in Unicode and ANSI mapping. - 32- and 64-bit Support
Simba SDKnatively supports both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, Mac OS, and iOS. In addition, 32-bit and 64-bit platforms will interoperate across the client/server connection. - Support for SQL and Non-SQL Data Stores
Simba SDK supports both SQL-enabled and non-SQL data stores. Non-SQL data stores can use Simba’s SQL Engine to provide SQL processing. SQL-enabled data stores will use Simba ODBC to provide ODBC 3.8 processing. - Collaborative Query Execution
Simba ODBC SDK’s innovative Collaborative Query Execution allows your data store to execute the parts of the query for which it is designed, and dynamically leave the rest of the query to be executed by the Simba SQL Engine. Because Simba SQL Engine does not redundantly execute the same parts of the query as your data store, your Simba ODBC SDK data connector delivers the full performance of your data store. - Dynamic Indexing within the SQL Engine
Simba SQL Engine supports dynamic indices creation on joining columns when no such indices exist. This speeds up table joins exponentially for faster data access and information retrieval. - Pass-Down Processing
Table filters, joins, aggregations, group bys, order bys, distincts, and projections can be passed down to your data store for execution if your data store is optimized for those functions. - Stored Procedures
Simba ODBC SDK supports Stored Procedures. - Scalar Functions
Support is provided for over 60 scalar and aggregate functions, in addition to allowing you to define your own custom functions. - Custom SQL Data Types
Your ODBC connector can choose to implement behaviors different from those provided by the SDK. - Custom Data Converters
Your ODBC connector can choose to implement data conversion routines that are the most efficient possible for custom data formats. - Interval Data Types
All 13 interval types defined by ODBC 3.80 are fully supported. - Maintainability & Extensibility
Simba SDK uses the object-oriented paradigm, allowing you to extend features, as well as upgrade to newer versions with ease and predictability. - Full Localization Support
All messages from the SDK and specific to the ODBC connector can be localized. - Data Connector Samples/Template
Simba SDK quickstart and ultralight connector templates are specially designed to provide you with sample code and sample data from which you can quickly build your custom ODBC connector.
- Fully Java Development Environment
Simba SDK fully supports a native Java development environment, including pure Java SQL Engine. Choose to implement your JDBC connector in the environment that best suits you. - JDBC 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 Support
Simba SDK supports the JDBC 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 specifications, plus custom metadata and attributes for greater flexibility. - JDBC Type 3 and Type 4 Support
Simba SDK can be used to develop both pure Java Type 3 or Type 4 data connectors. - Unicode Support
Simba SDK provides Unicode support for character sets of all international languages. This allows your customers to access their data in virtually any language, resulting in the widest interoperability. Unicode capable JDBC connectors also improve performance and remove the restrictions inherent in Unicode and ANSI mapping. - Support for SQL and Non-SQL Data Stores
Simba SDK supports both SQL-enabled and non-SQL data stores. Non-SQL data stores can use Simba’s SQL Engine to provide SQL processing. - Collaborative Query Execution
Simba SDK innovative Collaborative Query Execution allows your data store to execute the parts of the query for which it is designed and dynamically leave the rest of the query to be executed by Simba SQL Engine. Because Simba SQL Engine does not redundantly execute the same parts of the query as your data store, your Simba SDK data connector delivers the full performance of your data store. - Pass-Down Processing
Table filters, joins, aggregations, group bys, order bys, distincts, and projections can be passed down to your data store for execution if your data store is optimized for those functions. - Stored Procedures
Simba SDK supports Stored Procedures. - Scalar Functions
Support is provided for over 60 scalar and aggregate functions. - Maintainability & Extensibility
Simba SDK uses the object-oriented paradigm, allowing you to extend features, as well as upgrade to newer versions with ease and predictability. - Full Localization Support
All messages from the Simba SDK and specific to the JDBC connector can be localized. - Data Connector Samples/Template
Simba SDK quickstart and ultralight connector templates are specially designed to provide you with sample code and sample data from which you can quickly build your custom JDBC connector
- 100% Managed ADO.NET Data Provider
Simba ADO.NET SDK supports developing 100% managed code ADO.NET data providers against any SQL-enabled data stores, unlocking the full performance potential of your data store. - Unicode Support
Simba SDK provides Unicode support for character sets of all international languages. This allows your customers to access their data in virtually any language, resulting in the widest interoperability. - Maintainability & Extensibility
Simba SDK uses the object-oriented paradigm, allowing you to extend features, as well as upgrade to newer versions with ease and predictability. - Full Localization Support
All messages from the Simba SDK and specific to the ADO.NET provider can be localized. - Data Connector Samples/Template
Simba SDK Quickstart Connector Template is specially designed to provide you with sample code and sample data from which you can quickly build your custom ADO.NET data provider.
- Unicode Support
Simba OLE DB SDK provides Unicode support for character sets of all international languages. This allows your customers to access their data in virtually any language, resulting in the widest interoperability. Unicode capable OLE DB providers also improve performance and remove the restrictions inherent in Unicode and ANSI mapping. - Support for SQL and Non-SQL Data Stores
Simba SDK supports both SQL-enabled and non-SQL data stores. Non-SQL data stores can use Simba’s SQL Engine to provide SQL processing. - Collaborative Query Execution
Simba SDK innovative Collaborative Query Execution allows your data store to execute the parts of the query for which it is designed and dynamically leave the rest of the query to be executed by Simba SQL Engine. Because Simba SQL Engine does not redundantly execute the same parts of the query as your data store, your Simba SDK data connector delivers the full performance of your data store. - Pass-Down Processing
Table filters, joins and aggregations can be passed down to your data store for execution if your data store is optimized for those functions. - Maintainability & Extensibility
Simba SDK uses the object-oriented paradigm, allowing you to extend features, as well as upgrade to newer versions with ease and predictability. - Scalar Functions
Support is provided for over 60 scalar and aggregate functions, in addition to allowing you to define your own custom functions. - Data Connector Samples/Template
Simba SDK ODBC quickstart and ultralight connector templates are specially designed to provide you with sample code and sample data from which you can quickly build your custom ODBC connector.
Specifications
Stand-alone Data Connector and Server Platforms
- All Simba SDK components support 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows, Linux, Solaris, AIX, HPUX, and Mac OS X.
Development Software
- Windows: Microsoft Visual Studio 2019/2022.
- UNIX: For all platforms, the native compiler is supported.
- Linux: GNU Compiler environment.
- Mac: Xcode Clang 10.x/11.x/12.x/13.x
Client Platforms
- SimbaClient for ODBC supports the 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X, AIX, HPUX, and Solaris.
- SimbaClient for JDBC supports all client operating systems running a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) 1.6 or above.
BI Tool Support
- Any ODBC-capable application, including Microsoft Office, MicroStrategy, Tableau, PowerBI, Sisense, QuikView and SAP Business Objects Crystal Reports, etc.
Documentation
Developer Guides
- Developing Connectors for SQL-Aware Data Stores
- Developing Connectors for Non-SQL-Aware Data Stores
- Simba SDK OLE DB Implementation Guide
- SQL Generator User Guide
- Simba SDK SimbaClient/Server Developer Guide
Build a C++ ODBC Connector in 5 Days
- For Non-SQL-aware Data Sources | Windows
- For SQL-aware Data Sources | Windows
- For Non-SQL-aware Data Sources | Mac OS
- For SQL-aware Data Sources | Mac OS
- For Non-SQL-aware Data Sources | Linux
- For SQL-aware Data Sources | Linux
Build a Java ODBC Connector in 5 Days
Build a JDBC Connector in 5 Days
5-Day Guides (PDF)
- Build a C# ODBC Connector in 5 Days (Non-SQL-based Data Sources)
- Build a C# ODBC Connector in 5 Days (SQL-Based Data Sources)
- Build a Java ODBC Connector in 5 Days (Non-SQL-based Data Sources)
- Build a Java ODBC Connector in 5 Days (SQL-based Data Sources)
- Build an ADO.NET Provider in 5 Days
Datasheets
Other Documents
- Wire Protocol for ODBC Connectors and ODBC SDK
- Access the Correct ODBC Data Source Administrator on 32-bit vs 64-bit Windows
FAQs
API References
Release Notes
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