I can remember a time when there was a lot of debate regarding what data engine should be used. Se should use Oracle if we want to be able to scale, or handle heavy loads. We should use Sybase because it runs on different hardware. We should use SQL Server because it is much less expensive per seat, or calculation. We should use MySql because you can run it for free.
You really don’t hear that much along these lines anymore. The lines have become blurred. Intel servers have improved in performance to make other products reasonably comparable when the load doesn’t require a bigger server. Microsoft has increased their rates dramatically so the difference in cost between Oracle and SQL Server is not as great.
Even the smaller engines such as MySql are able to compete. Sharding has made it possible for even a small instance of MySql, clustered on a number of machines, has the ability to outperform the largest deployment of Oracle on big iron.
Have we attained a point where the engine really doesn’t matter? Is the decision more based on other factors such as preferred hardware, scaling out vs. scaling up, cost, syntax, internal capabilities, legacy systems to be supported, etc.?
What’s your take? Please leave a comment if this topic interests you. We’d love to have your opinion.
Cheers,
Ben