# Getting Started
The Gestal PC software is using an Apache Derby (opens new window) database.
Read-only access is provided when initiating a connection to the database using the guest user name with no password.
JYGA provides a sample application (opens new window) to export SQL queries into CSV files. Our open source code (opens new window) also shows how to initiate the database connection using Java, from which you can build your own custom solutions.
Programming languages
Various programming languages besides Java can be used to connect to the database. More examples will be added in the future.
# SQL database
Apache Derby is a relational database based on SQL standard. If you are new to this, probably only need to fetch data with our sample application (opens new window) using the SELECT (opens new window) statement.
Many complete course can be found online to get you started quickly. For in-depth syntax details, please rely on its official documentation (opens new window).
# Gestal database
The following sections will detail the Gestal database structure and document various tables to guide you in retrieving the data you need.
The first Gestal feeding system seen its development begin in 1994 and is still supported to this day by the latest Gestal PC software release. Please keep in mind the follwing:
- A few of these database tables were created 25 years ago and were not intended to be publicly documented at that time.
- JYGA is based in Québec, Canada where french is the main language. Thus, most variable names are in french.
- Some of the documented data can be irrelevant to you depending on which Gestal feeding system is operated by the PC software
- This documentation does not cover the entirety of the Gestal database.