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Feature
Article 1 of 3
Part of: Your guide to open source databases


OPEN SOURCE DATABASE COMPARISON TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOL




THESE ARE FOUR OF THE MOST POPULAR OPEN SOURCE RELATIONAL DATABASES AVAILABLE TO
ENTERPRISES WITH A COMPARISON CHART TO HELP YOU FIND THE BEST OPTION TO FIT YOUR
DATA.

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By
 * Joseph M. Carew, Assistant Site Editor

Published: 07 Jan 2021

When it comes to an open source database comparison, it is important to figure
out what your organization wants out of your database in order to make the
correct choice.



The popularity of database systems with commercial licenses has generally
declined over the last five years, while open source databases have generally
increased over the same period. As of 2021, according to DB-Engines, open source
license database management systems have overtaken their commercial counterparts
in popularity for enterprise adoption.

As with most technologies, choosing an open source database requires enterprise
self-evaluation in order to choose the right option for your data.


WHAT IS AN OPEN SOURCE DATABASE?

What differentiates an open source database management system from their
commercially available counterparts is the licensing. Open source databases are
open and free to use, while proprietary offerings require purchase from a
vendor.

Turning to open source database management systems reduces the costs associated
with the licenses of traditional systems but may not have the support or
capacity of vendor options. Proprietary DBMS options tend to have support
systems in place for clients.

Feature-wise, the two types of databases are broadly comparable. Here is an open
source database comparison of four common relational database options.

TechTarget

Open source database comparison of four top relational options.



MYSQL

MySQL is a dual-licensed software backed by Oracle, with an open source
community edition and several paid options. It has remained one of the most
popular open source database options for over a decade. This popularity means
there are a number of third-party tools and outside documentation to make use of
this option as easy as possible.

MySQL developers prioritized speed when creating the database, and it remains
widely recognized as one of the fastest database options around. On top of this
speed is a script that helps improve the security of the user's database.
Supported programming languages include C/C++, Java, Python and Ruby, among
others.

The disadvantages of MySQL lie in its dual-licensed nature. Some features and
plugins are only available in proprietary editions, which can be frustrating for
organizations seeking a truly open source option. Other than this, there is a
reason why MySQL remains a borderline standard for data management.
Organizations can turn to this database and expect solid results so long as they
don't need to be 100% SQL-compliant. The designers of this DBMS opted to build
MySQL with a focus on speed rather than complying to the full SQL standard of
179 features.


POSTGRESQL

PostgreSQL has grown in adoption by businesses across industries. This open
source object-relational database system has been around for over 30 years.

PostgreSQL has a reputation for reliability and data integrity and has been
ACID-compliant since 2001. The database supports numerous programming languages
such as .Net, C/C++, Java, Python and others.

For organizations familiar with MySQL, PostgreSQL provides a similar experience.
Technically, MySQL is an open source database, but it now has proprietary,
cloud-source modules under Oracle. This has some open source developers looking
for new options. Those looking for the most similar option should turn to
PostgreSQL.

This database contains features that MySQL doesn't. Table inheritance, the
ability for tables to exist in an inheritance-directed acyclic graph, and
function overloading, the capability for more than one function to have the same
SQL name so long as the arguments they take are different, are just two
examples.

Any business, despite its size or industry, can turn to PostgreSQL because it is
capable of handling complex queries and large data sets. This noted attribute is
especially useful if your organization is looking to deploy it for complicated
analytical processes. What really holds PostgreSQL back is the fact that
advanced tools like parallelization and clustering will require third-party
plugins.


MARIADB

Another preferred open source option is MariaDB, made by the original developers
of MySQL. The database supports a wide variety of programming languages,
including C/ C++, Java, Perl and Python, among others.

Organizations turning to MariaDB will find frequent security releases and a
general commitment to keeping their DBMS secure. On top of a general commitment
to security, developers have guaranteed that MariaDB will remain open source.

Similar to PostgreSQL, MariaDB is compatible with migration from MySQL and works
with commonly used programming languages in MySQL. This makes transition easier
for organizations seeking a change. On top of this, MariaDB can run WordPress.

Since the release of MariaDB version 10.0, there are some incompatibilities when
it comes to migration from MySQL. Some recoding will be necessary in the
process. Some users have also stated some issues with bloating and slow
performance when working with larger data sets.


SQLITE

SQLite is likely the most-used database engine in the world at the moment. Built
into mobile phones, most computers and found in countless applications, SQLite
is common but is aimed at a slightly different issue than MySQL or PostgreSQL.
This DBMS supports numerous programming languages, including C/C++, Java and
Python, among others.

This is the answer for organizations with a small database or devices at the
edge of the network. SQLite can be implemented across systems and provides local
data storage for individual applications and devices. What holds SQLite back at
an enterprise level is a misunderstanding of its purpose. It is not intended to
match the capabilities and features of the larger options listed here and will
likely disappoint users looking for high scalability. Working with lots of data
means that this is not your best option.

Applications that require multiple users with special access permissions are not
a good match because SQLite reads and writes on an ordinary disk file. This
means the only applicable access permissions are the usual permissions included
in the underlying operating system.

NEXT STEPS

MariaDB expands SkySQL cloud database for high availability



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DIG DEEPER ON DATA MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

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Part of: Your guide to open source databases

Article 1 of 3
Up Next
Open source database comparison to choose the right tool

These are four of the most popular open source relational databases available to
enterprises with a comparison chart to help you find the best option to fit your
data.

Open source database migration guide: How to transition

Open source database transitions have been on the rise as they prove to be
worthy competitors to commercial database options, but that transition requires
strategy and user buy-in.

Top open source database advantages for enterprises

Open source databases typically offer lower upfront costs and more community
support and, in recent years, have offered strong competition to commercial
database offerings.

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