Which database to choose

[Elsje]

Hi,

I want to build an app that uses an database to store the date.
I'm used to use MS-Access (but in combination whit VB). This app I want to make is in Java. Now I would like to know wheter there are other databases that I should take in consideration before I start. I already read that there are different possibilities. What are yours experiences with databases.

Thanks in advance.
Els

 

[EBGreen]

If you want to do it in Java, then do you want it to be cross platform compatible? If so, I would look at MySql.

[blue]"Well, once again my friend, we find that science is a two headed beast. One head is nice, it gives us aspirin and other modern conveniences,...but the other head of science is BAD! Oh, beware the other head of science, Arthur; it bites!!" - The Tick[/blue]

 

[LordOfCode]

I think the decision depends on the application you're building and the organization you work for.

If your are building a small business database you could use free database like MySQL or PostgreSQL (Linux).

If your application is mission critical you might consider SQL Server (for a Windows environment) or Oracle (Window, Linux, etc), DB2 or Sybase.

There are other options, if you want good database support, but you do not want to pay for Oralce, Db2 or SQL Server, and either want to use a free database like MySQL or PostgreSQL, because you do not know how long they will stay around, you might consider Sybase SQL Anywhere. It's just $300 and it's very good.

I hope it helps.

edalorzo@hotmail.com

 

[sedj]

(As previous posts)
If you want to pay, I'd go for Oracle. If you don't, I'd go for MySQL/PostGres.

 

[siberian]

Check out Firebird (

http://www.firebirdsql.org/).

Its

1) Fast
2) Fully compliant (transactions etc)
3) REALLY free. Free as in beer.
4) Immensely scalable, (40GB databases)
5) Did I mention free?
6) Easy to install and manage, we deploy ours as part of our java enterprise suite. Works great!
7) Cross-platform

 

[stefanwagner]

hsqldb as a pure java and in-memory database is a nice, small rdbms. I don't know how it works for great amount of data, but it will handle bigger things than msAccess.

1) fast
2) compliant ?
3) free in both meanings: gratis and open source
4) scalable ?
5) low installation needs
7) cross-platform

For linux: Postgreql is much more compliant than mySql.

seeking a job as java-programmer in Berlin:

http://home.arcor.de/hirnstrom/bewerbung

 

[stevexff]

I guess the answer is to make your own choice depending on your needs, as indicated in the other posts. But to make your life easier later on:
[ul]
[li]Use something that is fully JDBC compliant.[/li]
[li]Don't use any of the proprietary extensions that all databases seem to have in one form or another.[/li]
[li]Don't use stored procedures unless you have no other option.[/li][/ul]

These three suggestions mean that if you do make the the wrong choice, or if circumstances force you to change databases, your work will be limited to migrating the tables and switching the JDBC driver.