There are a lot of RDBMS out there. It would be nice to assume that any one is perfect for or can be adapted to any situation, but that simply isn’t true. Each has its strengths and its weaknesses.
When I am doing initial research on a database project, there are a few properties I will look into and questions I will ask to determine what is the best fit for that project.
- Pricing
- Vendor product support
- Size limit
- Number of users
- Security mechanisms
- Backups
- Export/import tools
- Business intelligence tools
- Front-end options
- Operating system
- Other hardware/resources required
I’ve gathered this information for the following RDBMS:
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft SQL Server
- SQL Azure
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
Having this information at my fingertips, able to be presented to a client or a project manager I’m working with, has been invaluable. I hope this reference can be of value to you too!
[Cheatsheet: RDBMS Comparison][1]
[1]: https://lessthandot.z19.web.core.windows.net/wp-content/uploads/users/grrlgeek/DB comparison.pdf?mtime=1327286341
Jes Borland is a Premier Field Engineer - SQL Server for Microsoft, where she is a trusted technical adviser, deep technical support, and teacher for her customers. Her experience as a DBA, consultant, and 5-time Data Platform MVP allow her to help the business and the IT teams reach their goals. She has worked with SQL Server as a developer, report writer, DBA, and consultant. Her favorite topics are administration, automation, and performance. She frequently presents at user groups, SQL Saturdays, and other community events. She is also an avid runner and chef.
