DBIx::Version 0.01

DBIx::Version is a Perl extension for getting database software name and version.

SYNOPSIS

use DBIx::Version;

my $dbh = DBI->connect( ... );
my ($dbname, $dbver, $dbverfull) = DBIx::Version::Version($dbh);

DBIx::Version lets you query which database software and version you are connected to.

Return Examples:

(undef, undef, undef)
(mysql, 4.0.17, 4.0.17-standard-log)
(postgresql, 7.4.1, PostgreSQL 7.4.1 on i686-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC gcc (GCC) 3.3.2 20031107 (Red Hat Linux 3.3.2-2))
(oracle, 8.1.7.0.0, 8.1.7.0.0)
(sqlserver, 8.00.384, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 - 8.00.384 (Intel X86)
May 23 2001 00:02:52
Copyright (c) 1988-2000 Microsoft Corporation
Standard Edition on Windows NT 5.0 (Build 2195: Service Pack 2))
(sybase,12.5.0.1,Adaptive Server Enterprise/12.5.0.1/SWR 9982 IR/P/Sun_svr4/OS 5.8/rel12501/1776/ 64-bit/FBO/Tue Feb 26 01:22:10 2002)
(sybase,12.5.0.2,Adaptive Server Enterprise/12.5.0.2/EBF 14000 IR/P/Sun_svr4/OS 5.8/rel12502/1776/64-bit/FBO/Tue Jun 4 01:22:10 2002)

Answer 1: This module is useful for cross-platform coding, and in environments like shared hosting where you actually didnt install the database yourself and are curious.