[REBOL] Re: Command 2 questions
From: gjones05:mail:orion at: 27-May-2001 7:05
From: "Petr Krenzelok"
...
> Great. I would like to ask RT to add also PostGress SQL native
database
> support for Linux version to have it "complete". PostGress, as of 7.1
> version is regarded being "free Oracle" or so I heard. It is free, yet
> powerfull and properly supports transactions. If you will hear to
Apache +
> PHP ppl, many of them talk just two SQL databases - mySQL and
PostGressSQL.
> Anyone here to second my observations?
...
From what I've read (not first hand knowledge):
MySQL for cheap, fast database support for non-mission critical websites
where transactions are less important. PostGresSQL for cheap,
transaction-supported database support. Oracle if you are intending to
run large-scale, mission-critical database and have lots of money!
Philip Greenspun (MIT & ARSDigita) discusses database use in the real
world uses at length in his several on-line books and articles (I can
find a few links if you are interested). His take is that Oracle's more
sophisticated transaction management is worth the money for operations
that involve large database sizes and/or 24 hour service. One such
feature, if I recall correctly, is demonstrated when the database is
getting backed-up or archiving records. Oracle allows continuous
operation while marking new transactions in a separate base while the
backup/archiving sweep is running. Then the new transactions are rolled
in only after the other operation is complete. What this gives is true
integrity if the operation is interrupted. He believes that more is
spent in manually fixing a fouled up database than on an Oracle license.
He also believes that Oracle requires a fulltime, well-trained Oracle
database administrator. It all adds up to money in my book.
Similar to what Joel says about computer languages: You can get "cheap
and fast and no piece of mind" or "cheap and slow and some piece of
mind" or "expensive and slow and piece of mind" but you can't get more
than one.
I think if REBOL is to grow rapidly, it will need to support more than
Oracle and MySql "natively". Unfortunately, it will never garner the
free
manpower support that PHP gets for building native API's. Of
course, to counter balance this perspective, are those that believe that
all database access should be through standard API's, like ODBC/ADO,
etc, despite the slower speed.
--Scott Jones
