Good news for those of you frustrated by the lack of a SQL database in Google’s App Engine - they've finally got round to adding one.

The imaginatively named Google Cloud SQL is currently only available in a limited preview, so if you want the chance to try it out, you need to be quick and ask nicely here.The preview will be free of charge, and Google will announce pricing when they’re a month away from starting to charge for it.

Google’s description of the database explains that Google Cloud SQL is web service that allows you to create, configure, and use relational databases with your App Engine applications. It is a fully-managed service that maintains, manages, and administers your databases, allowing you to focus on your applications and services.

The database provides similar capabilities to those you’d get if using MySQL, so allows you to move your data into and out of the cloud, which means you can make use of any existing database using JDBC for Java-based apps or DB-API for Python-based apps.

According to a  blog post by Navneet Joneja, its Product Manager, the advantages of Google Cloud SQL are firstly, that Google will deal with the back-end maintenance and administration tasks. It will also replicate your data synchronously to multiple data centers, with any machine, rack or data center failures handled automatically to maximise reliability and availability.

More information:

What is Google Cloud SQL?

To apply for preview:

Google Cloud SQL Limited Preview Signup

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