<PAGE>   1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 1999

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


            DELAWARE                                        04-3318325
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification Number)


ONE BURLINGTON WOODS, SUITE 200, BURLINGTON, MA               01803
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)



     AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (300,000 SHARES)
        AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (1,431,470 SHARES)
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                DAVID A. LITWACK
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.
                         ONE BURLINGTON WOODS, SUITE 200
                              BURLINGTON, MA 01803
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                 (781) 238-5400
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================================================================================================
                                                  Proposed                Proposed
    Title of                                       Maximum                Maximum
   Securities                 Amount              Offering               Aggregate               Amount of
     to be                    to be                 Price                 Offering              Registration
   Registered               Registered            Per Share                Price                    Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                  <C>                 <C>                        <C>
Common Stock, $.001          1,731,470            $24.50(1)           $42,421,015                $11,793.04
par value                     shares                                        (1)
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Computed in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act
     of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the bid and asked price of
     the Common Stock on August 23, 1999.
================================================================================


<PAGE>   2


PART I.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or given
to participants in the Registrant's Amended and Restated 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan and Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan pursuant to
Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").


PART II.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements
of Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"). The following documents, which are on file with the
Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

          (1) The Registrant's latest annual report filed pursuant to Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or the latest prospectus filed pursuant
     to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that contains audited financial
     statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such
     statements have been filed.

          (2) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
     Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the document
     referred to in (1) above.

          (3) The description of the common stock of the Registrant, $.001 par
     value per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in a registration statement
     filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for
     the purpose of updating such description.

          All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all shares of Common Stock
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all shares of Common Stock
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.



                                      II-1

<PAGE>   3


     ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.


     ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     The legality of the Common Stock being offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Registrant by Hale and Dorr LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.


     ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Restated Certificate of Incorporation") provides that no director of the
Registrant shall be personally liable for any monetary damages for any breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "Law") prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability
of directors for breach of fiduciary duty.

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director or
officer of the Registrant (a) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding
(other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) brought against him
by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful and (b) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses
(including attorneys' fees) and amounts paid in settlement incurred in
connection with any action by or in the right of the Registrant brought against
him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the Registrant, except that no indemnification
shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery of Delaware determines that, despite such adjudication but in
view of all of the circumstances, he is entitled to indemnification of such
expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a director or
officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, he is required to be
indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys' fees)
incurred in connection therewith. Expenses shall be advanced to a director or
officer at his request, unless it is determined that he did not act in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful,
provided that he undertakes to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately
determined that he is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.



                                      II-2

<PAGE>   4



     As a condition precedent to the right of indemnification, the director or
officer must give the Registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is
sought and the Registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume
the defense thereof.

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the
indemnification provided therein is not exclusive and that Registrant may enter
into agreements with officers and directors providing for indemnification rights
and procedures different from those set forth in the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.

     Section 145 of the Law provides that a corporation has the power to
indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain
other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities
against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or
proceeding to which he is, or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of
such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions
brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made
with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to
be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating
court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.

     ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

     ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

     The Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits is incorporated herein
by reference.

     ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

     1.   The Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
          Securities Act;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
          after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in the Registration Statement; and

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
          plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
          Statement or


                                      II-3

<PAGE>   5



          any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

     provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
     Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     2.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration
Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

     3.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4

<PAGE>   6


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Burlington, Massachusetts on August 19, 1999.


                                   SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.


                                   By: /s/ David A. Litwack
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       David A. Litwack
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer



                        POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of SilverStream Software, Inc.
hereby severally constitute and appoint Craig A. Dynes and David A. Litwack, and
each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and
each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated
below, the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed herewith and any and all
subsequent amendments to said Registration Statement, and generally to do all
such things in our names and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors
to enable SilverStream Software, Inc. to comply with all requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our
signatures as they may be signed by said attorneys, or any of them, to said
Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.





                                      II-5

<PAGE>   7



     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATES INDICATED.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Signature                                      Title                               Date
      ---------                                      -----                               ----

<S>                                            <C>                                  <C>
/s/ David R. Skok                              Chairman of the Board                August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    of Directors
David R. Skok


/s/ David A. Litwack                           President, Chief                     August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    Executive Officer and
David A. Litwack                               Director (Principal
                                               Executive Officer)


/s/ Craig A. Dynes                             Vice President, Chief                August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    Financial Officer and
Craig A. Dynes                                 Treasurer  (Principal
                                               Financial and
                                               Accounting Officer)


/s/ Timothy Barrows                            Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Timothy Barrows


/s/ Richard A. D'Amore                         Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Richard A. D'Amore



                                               Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Paul J. Severino
</TABLE>



                                      II-6


<PAGE>   8



EXHIBIT INDEX


 Exhibit
 Number                    Description
 -------                   -----------

    4.1 (1)         Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
                    the Registrant

    4.2 (1)         Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

    4.3 (1)         Specimen Certificate for Common Stock of the Registrant

    5               Opinion of Hale and Dorr LLP

   23.1             Consent of Hale and Dorr LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

   23.2             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

   24               Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this
                    Registration Statement)

   99.1 (1)         Amended and Restated 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

   99.2 (1)         Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Registration
     Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-80553).



                                      II-7
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 19227}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE INC", "cik": "0001042282", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "043318325", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-85829", "film-number": "99698654"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE BURLINGTON WOODS DR", "city": "BURLINGTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01803", "phone": "7812385400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE BURLINGTON WOODS DR", "city": "BURLINGTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01803"}}
1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 1999

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

            DELAWARE                                        04-3318325
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                         Identification Number)

ONE BURLINGTON WOODS, SUITE 200, BURLINGTON, MA               01803
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)

     AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (300,000 SHARES)
        AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (1,431,470 SHARES)
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                DAVID A. LITWACK
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.
                         ONE BURLINGTON WOODS, SUITE 200
                              BURLINGTON, MA 01803
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                 (781) 238-5400
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==============================================================================================================
                                                  Proposed                Proposed
    Title of                                       Maximum                Maximum
   Securities                 Amount              Offering               Aggregate               Amount of
     to be                    to be                 Price                 Offering              Registration
   Registered               Registered            Per Share                Price                    Fee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.001          1,731,470            $24.50(1)           $42,421,015                $11,793.04
par value                     shares                                        (1)
==============================================================================================================
(1)  Computed in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act
     of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the bid and asked price of
     the Common Stock on August 23, 1999.
================================================================================
2

PART I.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The information required by Part I is included in documents sent or given
to participants in the Registrant's Amended and Restated 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan and Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan pursuant to
Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

PART II.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements
of Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"). The following documents, which are on file with the
Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

          (1) The Registrant's latest annual report filed pursuant to Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or the latest prospectus filed pursuant
     to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that contains audited financial
     statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such
     statements have been filed.

          (2) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
     Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the document
     referred to in (1) above.

          (3) The description of the common stock of the Registrant, $.001 par
     value per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in a registration statement
     filed under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for
     the purpose of updating such description.

          All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all shares of Common Stock
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all shares of Common Stock
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

                                      II-1
3

     ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.

     ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     The legality of the Common Stock being offered hereby will be passed upon
for the Registrant by Hale and Dorr LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

     ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Restated Certificate of Incorporation") provides that no director of the
Registrant shall be personally liable for any monetary damages for any breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "Law") prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability
of directors for breach of fiduciary duty.

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director or
officer of the Registrant (a) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement incurred in connection with any litigation or other legal proceeding
(other than an action by or in the right of the Registrant) brought against him
by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful and (b) shall be indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses
(including attorneys' fees) and amounts paid in settlement incurred in
connection with any action by or in the right of the Registrant brought against
him by virtue of his position as a director or officer of the Registrant if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the Registrant, except that no indemnification
shall be made with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Registrant, unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery of Delaware determines that, despite such adjudication but in
view of all of the circumstances, he is entitled to indemnification of such
expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that a director or
officer has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, he is required to be
indemnified by the Registrant against all expenses (including attorneys' fees)
incurred in connection therewith. Expenses shall be advanced to a director or
officer at his request, unless it is determined that he did not act in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful,
provided that he undertakes to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately
determined that he is not entitled to indemnification for such expenses.

                                      II-2
4

     As a condition precedent to the right of indemnification, the director or
officer must give the Registrant notice of the action for which indemnity is
sought and the Registrant has the right to participate in such action or assume
the defense thereof.

     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that the
indemnification provided therein is not exclusive and that Registrant may enter
into agreements with officers and directors providing for indemnification rights
and procedures different from those set forth in the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.

     Section 145 of the Law provides that a corporation has the power to
indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain
other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities
against amounts paid and expenses incurred in connection with an action or
proceeding to which he is, or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of
such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, in any criminal proceeding, if such person had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions
brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made
with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to
be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating
court determines that such indemnification is proper under the circumstances.

     ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

     ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

     The Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits is incorporated herein
by reference.

     ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

     1.   The Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
          Securities Act;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
          after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in the Registration Statement; and

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
          plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
          Statement or

                                      II-3
5

          any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

     provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
     Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
     Statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     2.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration
Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

     3.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
6

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Burlington, Massachusetts on August 19, 1999.

                                   SILVERSTREAM SOFTWARE, INC.

                                   By: /s/ David A. Litwack
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       David A. Litwack
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of SilverStream Software, Inc.
hereby severally constitute and appoint Craig A. Dynes and David A. Litwack, and
each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and
each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated
below, the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed herewith and any and all
subsequent amendments to said Registration Statement, and generally to do all
such things in our names and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors
to enable SilverStream Software, Inc. to comply with all requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our
signatures as they may be signed by said attorneys, or any of them, to said
Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.

                                      II-5
7

     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATES INDICATED.
Signature                                      Title                               Date
      ---------                                      -----                               ----
/s/ David R. Skok                              Chairman of the Board                August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    of Directors
David R. Skok

/s/ David A. Litwack                           President, Chief                     August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    Executive Officer and
David A. Litwack                               Director (Principal
                                               Executive Officer)

/s/ Craig A. Dynes                             Vice President, Chief                August 20, 1999
---------------------------                    Financial Officer and
Craig A. Dynes                                 Treasurer  (Principal
                                               Financial and
                                               Accounting Officer)

/s/ Timothy Barrows                            Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Timothy Barrows

/s/ Richard A. D'Amore                         Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Richard A. D'Amore

                                               Director                             August 20, 1999
---------------------------
Paul J. Severino
II-6
8

EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit
 Number                    Description
 -------                   -----------

    4.1 (1)         Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
                    the Registrant

    4.2 (1)         Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant

    4.3 (1)         Specimen Certificate for Common Stock of the Registrant

    5               Opinion of Hale and Dorr LLP

   23.1             Consent of Hale and Dorr LLP (included in Exhibit 5)

   23.2             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

   24               Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this
                    Registration Statement)

   99.1 (1)         Amended and Restated 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

   99.2 (1)         Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)  Incorporated herein by reference from the Registrant's Registration
     Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-80553).

                                      II-7