Compare Apache Cassandra vs. Citus vs. PostgreSQL

When seeking a database that ensures both scalability and high availability without sacrificing performance, Apache Cassandra stands out as an ideal option. Its linear scalability paired with proven fault tolerance on standard hardware or cloud services positions it as an excellent choice for handling mission-critical data effectively. Additionally, Cassandra's superior capability to replicate data across several datacenters not only enhances user experience by reducing latency but also offers reassurance in the event of regional failures. This combination of features makes it a robust solution for organizations that prioritize data resilience and efficiency.

Citus enhances the beloved Postgres experience by integrating the capability of distributed tables, while remaining fully open source. It now supports both schema-based and row-based sharding, alongside compatibility with Postgres 16. You can scale Postgres effectively by distributing both data and queries, starting with a single Citus node and seamlessly adding more nodes and rebalancing shards as your needs expand. By utilizing parallelism, maintaining a larger dataset in memory, increasing I/O bandwidth, and employing columnar compression, you can significantly accelerate query performance by up to 300 times or even higher. As an extension rather than a fork, Citus works with the latest versions of Postgres, allowing you to utilize your existing SQL tools and build on your Postgres knowledge. Additionally, you can alleviate infrastructure challenges by managing both transactional and analytical tasks within a single database system. Citus is available for free download as open source, giving you the option to self-manage it while actively contributing to its development through GitHub. Shift your focus from database concerns to application development by running your applications on Citus within the Azure Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL environment, making your workflow more efficient.

PostgreSQL stands out as a highly capable, open-source object-relational database system that has been actively developed for more than three decades, earning a solid reputation for its reliability, extensive features, and impressive performance. Comprehensive resources for installation and usage are readily available in the official documentation, which serves as an invaluable guide for both new and experienced users. Additionally, the open-source community fosters numerous forums and platforms where individuals can learn about PostgreSQL, understand its functionalities, and explore job opportunities related to it. Engaging with this community can enhance your knowledge and connection to the PostgreSQL ecosystem. Recently, the PostgreSQL Global Development Group announced updates for all supported versions, including 15.1, 14.6, 13.9, 12.13, 11.18, and 10.23, which address 25 reported bugs from the past few months. Notably, this marks the final release for PostgreSQL 10, meaning that it will no longer receive any security patches or bug fixes going forward. Therefore, if you are currently utilizing PostgreSQL 10 in your production environment, it is highly recommended that you plan to upgrade to a more recent version to ensure continued support and security. Upgrading will not only help maintain the integrity of your data but also allow you to take advantage of the latest features and improvements introduced in newer releases.