This IDC study provides a forecast, through 2012, for the database development and management tools (DDMT) software market, which is in a state of transition as database management system (DBMS) vendors provide increasingly high-performance, scalable, and self-managing database capabilities.

"DDMT vendors are developing versions of their software that make it easier for less technical users to develop databases and database applications and enable DBAs with expertise in one vendor's DBMS to also be able to manage and tune the DBMS of another vendor without having to study manuals or take courses," said Carl Olofson, research vice president for Information Management and Data Integration Software Research at IDC.