RGDB is a small no-frills database program, particularly well suited for personal use and for use on a hand-held device. It uses a Linked Node system which gives it unusual versatility, and allows data structures to evolve as information is added.

Items are represented as text attached to nodes. RGDB displays nodes and their links to other nodes. However, the links are structurally independent of the nodes and can represent any of any number of different types of relations. There are no restrictions on the number or types of links attached to a node. Nodes, links and relations can be created, edited or deleted at any time. Almost any data structure can be created and modified as needed.

For example, the title of a book and the name of an author can be the text of two nodes. That the author wrote the book is indicated by a link between the nodes. The link is attached to the "book - author" relationship (created by the user). Using the same relationship, links can be made from the the book to any number of co-authors and the author can be linked to any number of other books. RGDB can display the author (showing links to books), the book (showing links to authors), a list of all books or a list of all authors. Other relationships, such as "book - translator" or "author - country", can be created as needed.

RGDB is a tool. It is utilitarian and bare-boned to keep it small. It does not have glitzy graphs, fancy tables or bright colours. It does not hold your hand and tell you what to do. There are many other apps that are better for certain jobs. Try them first and when the other apps don't work, then try RGDB.

Text for nodes and relations can be in any language for which there is a keyboard.

Note that, while RGDB data is backed up by iTunes, currently there is no easy way to communicate data to or from a host computer or other apps.

RGDB can do lists, lists of lists, christmas lists, membership lists, shopping lists. It can list the characteristics or profile of an item. It can cross-reference, index and use keywords. It can do genealogy. It can do timelines and logs. It can do all of these things and many more, all at the same time.

Examples of uses: favourite restaurants, bars, coffee houses, stores, by city and rated; birthdays and favourite things of friends or relatives; shoe sizes, etc. for yourself or significant other; who's dating whom; names of children of friends or relatives; names of everyone in your class, your office, your street; genealogy of oneself or of a historical personage; christmas list, birthday lists, to-do list; catalogue books, music, things that will be forgotten or misplaced; log when and where photos were taken; track characters in a very long novel; etc.