MySQL - Possibly the only database you will ever need
December 28, 2018
MySQL - Possibly the only database you will ever need
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with MySQL
I primarily use MySQL for data storage for content-management systems for websites built in Drupal or WordPress. It provides a simple, easily-managed solution to the need for performant data storage and querying for site data, such as pages or posts. I also use it as the back-end data storage and querying solution for static front-end web applications built in Angular, React or Vue. It remains my go-to choice when I need an SQL database for my applications and/or CMS. My business is a small one so it is used only by myself, and therefore across my organization. I use the Community Server edition as it suits my needs without having to extend it to the Enterprise Server edition.
Pros
- The Community Server edition remains a strong candidate for a SQL-based database solution that supports a wide array of data structures.
- It scales well for both small business and enterprise use.
- It performs very well provided your database schema is well-planned and carefully considered (which is the case for any database solution).
- It has a number of interface solutions including GUI-based ones such as phpMyAdmin and MySQL Workbench that allow for easy management of your databases.
Cons
- Does not fully comply with SQL standards, most notably in regards to referencing foreign keys.
- A major bug remains in its implementation of timestamp methods that will result in a 0 being returned for dates falling after Jan 19, 2038. While possibly not a show-stopper for most use cases, there are applications where date ranges that far out will be required (such as loan management).
- Its open-source nature may not suit larger organization or high-performing systems well, which may benefit from the stronger support and scalability of premium products.
- It has made site management through a CMS like WordPress or Drupal infinitely easier to manage.
- It is a critical part of the LAMP, WAMP and MAMP stack and has been a major driver of innovation in the content-management-system space, pushing site and web-application development toward greater democratization.
- It has proved to be very reliable and easy to set up and administer and saves me tremendous time troubleshooting query and performance issues.
It would be hard to make a case for the use of Microsoft Access for any but the most simple of internal business applications at this stage, not because it is a bad product but it falls well short of the power and scalability of MySQL and almost any other databse solution out there.
MongoDB is a strong competitor to MySQL but it has the important distinction of being a no-SQL solution and stores data as tuples. This has many advantages and disadvantages over a SQL-based solution but in most cases MySQL will remain an easier and more popular option.
MongoDB is a strong competitor to MySQL but it has the important distinction of being a no-SQL solution and stores data as tuples. This has many advantages and disadvantages over a SQL-based solution but in most cases MySQL will remain an easier and more popular option.
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