Oracle and PostgreSQL Debate

Mark Brunelli writes DBAs are talking about the merits of the open source PostgreSQL database management system (DBMS) as compared to Oracle - and their opinions truly run the gamut. DBAs responding to the interview said they liked the low cost and ease of use of the open source database, while others said that Oracle's rich feature cannot be ignored. Still others talked about how well the two systems play together. According to one DBA, a gateway product from Oracle would be a welcome offering."

Oracle's rich feature?

[Anonymous Coward]

others said that Oracle's rich feature cannot be ignored

Oracle's rich feature? Oracle only has one feature?

If that's the case, it would have to be a pretty mighty feature to beat any other database...well, except maybe Access.

So does anyone know what this feature is?

Re:If you need Oracle, you need it.

[pbaehr]

50% of this message was convoluted by unnecessary use of percentages. 100% of that 50% was difficult to read as a result.

Only one conclusion one can draw

[RLiegh]

Anyone who has done enterprise level web-enabled applications can easily tell you the faults with all of the major players in the database field. Oracle is simply 'ok', but for most tasks, it's -to be brutally honest- over kill. Do you really need the replication features of SQL when all you are doing is cacheing emails and collecting messages from your users? At this juncture, most people are relieved because they believe that they settle for a second-teir solution such as MYsql and save the licensing fees to boot.

This might be ideal if all that you were doing was a ruby program that indexed your record collection, say for a student project in your CS class; but in the real world if you have to interface with serious e-commerce applications [getindi.com] you will find that not only does MySqL lack even moderately advanced SQL features, but that you will be facing rising support costs for this "free" platform.

So, this brings us to PostGRESL. Now, I don't have a lot of experience with it, myself, given that I've mostly stuck to following the major database players instead of the fringe ones, but since this article addresses it, I've asked some of my friends their opinions. While it's featureful and scalable enough to meet the demands of your average medium sized shop, they've noticed that it tends to not be a viable solution for larger projects. In particular the latest industry benchmarks show PostGREsqL performing poorly compared to more mainstream vendor such as ingres [ingres.com].

Again, like MysQl, POSTgres demonstrates that in order to get enterprise level performance out of hobbyist level software, you're going to have to pay enterprise level fees for support as well as licenseing.

So, in conclusion, after seeing the way in which the other industry standard database solutions fail, there's only one choice a sane IT manager can make: When you need a datacenter solution which both high performant and scalable, is eoconomically viable and contains more support for the current standards the only real contender is SQL Server.

In other news...

[adolfojp]

Next week on Slashdot:

Movers: 18 Wheelers and Pickup Trucks Debate
Grave Diggers: 360 Degree Excavators and Shovels Debate
Firefighters: C-130s and Hoses Debate

Re:Comparisons

[Anonymous Crowhead]

How about a site that shows me objective views Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc. have to offer?

Just go to that site that has the unbiased comparison of emacs vs vi (can't rembember the url), then click on the "Perl vs Ruby vs Python: An Ojective Analysis" link. On that page, there is a link to exactly what you are looking for (It's just under all the "Linux vs Microsoft: TCO" whitepapers.)

Re:If you need Oracle, you need it.

[hey!]

Well, what's their alternative? SQL Server?

I think the point is that Postgres might be a better solution for them, now that it's supported on NT.

List out the current list of products that qualify as "Something Better" than SQL Server.

All the products? Do I have to include encoding information on knotted cords and dispatching it over mountain footpaths via barefoot runners?

Better depends on what for of course. SQL server is fair as a database engine, but so is Postgres. Transact SQL is utter crap, both by design (it's the most unorthagonal SQL I've ever seen) and in implementation (buggy if you aren't doing vanilla SQL); given that I'd say Postgres is better if you rely upon SQL. But SQL Server is a good choice if you're going 100% Microsoft end to end, including IDEs that generate all the SQL for you.

Re:Availability of Source Code? Does it Matter?

[Anonymous Coward]

Reading the Oracle source is kind of like watching how they make sausage -- once you've done it, you'll never want to use Oracle again!

Re:There are other options....

[jarich]

I'm currently writing a Ruby wrapper for it and then I'll add a Rails adapter. When I'm done I plan on writing it up, but at the moment I don't have the time.

My blog is on my sig if you want to keep an eye on it.

Re:Many DBAs miss the point

[LurkerXXX]

"If you really want to know if PostgreSQL (or MySQL) can handle it, look at the best and brightest tech corps in the world. I'll pick two for you: Google and Yahoo!. They use MySQL extensively. IMO PostgreSQL can do whatever MySQL can (though, honestly, I'm not sure, I've only ever seen MySQL in high volume environments like Digg, where I'm currently working)."

"If you think MySQL/PostgreSQL just don't have what it takes on a fundamental level, I humbly suggest you rethink your competence in the field.

From the Yahoo's home page... 'Company info' link, 'Employment Opportunities', 'Find a job' link, 'job search' link, searching for 'dba' gives...

Oracle DBA" [yahoo.com],

Technical Yahoo, Sr [yahoo.com] which describes it as "We are looking for a seasoned Oracle DBA/Architect to join Yahoo! Mail team. You will be part of Mail DBA team to design, setup and manage multi-terabytes Oracle RAC databases for next generation of web-based applications." ,

Sr. Oracle DBA - Yahoo! Search & Marketplace [yahoo.com],

IT Applications Support Analyst [yahoo.com] described as "This position will provide day-to-day applications support in troubleshooting issues related to Oracle 11i HR, Oracle Self Service, and several integrated 3rd party HR applications working closely with the Corporate IT Applications development team, DBA's, HRIS and various HR business groups/partners.",

Technical Yahoo [yahoo.com] described as "Plan, install, configure, maintain and administer Oracle databases."

And over at Google, searching for jobs at Google with the keyword Oracle we have:

Systems Specialist - Internal Applications [google.com] which lists requirements as "Production support experience with Oracle or MySQL database servers, including user creation, monitoring of backups, basic queries and generation of data extracts." I wonder why they list Oracle. Maybe because they use Oracle as well??? hmmm.

Database Administrator - Phoenix [google.com] which says "This person will be tasked with supporting databases of varied flavors including Oracle, SQL*Server, MySQL and Netezza (Postgres-type)."

Technical Accounting Manager [google.com] which says "Recent Oracle 11i experience is a plus."

Database Administrator (Temporary) - Mountain View [google.com] which states "The primary database platform this person will support will be MySQL and Oracle but will also be involved in assisting with Microsoft SQL, Netezza and PostGres. "

Googles jobs listing Oracle go on and on...

They use MySQL for very shallow applications that aren't that critical if they screw up a few records. If that happens, a few hits aren't returned. No biggie, there are probably 14,000 other hits for what you've searched for, and what you ne

Re:Oracle's rich feature?

[bakes]

Oracle's rich feature?

You have to be rich to buy Oracle. That's the feature.

Re:I'm not convinced...

[indifferent children]

I'm very happy that our company is using Oracle - it's expensive, that's why! That high expense reflects back on me, in a good way.

I'm glad that raw leather is so expensive. That makes my salary look small in comparison. And our buggy-whip sales have been going up, up, up! I am so set for life.