Item: SAP SQL Anywhere
Rating: 4
Author: David Williams

Overall Satisfaction with SAP SQL Anywhere

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use SAP SQL Anywhere as the database for our core line-of-business application. We have both stand-alone and multi-user (enterprise) installations of this application. It is the repository of all our major transactional data, and as such is also the source for our data warehouse, which is a separate platform and environment.

Pros and Cons

Pros

SQL compliant
ODBC drivers available
Simple implementation

Cons

Seems a lesser implementation of SQL than T-SQL / SQL Server
Desktop version (vs. enterprise version) seems underpowered, like Access vs MS SQL rather than a desktop edition of an enterprise database
Fewer experienced resources available with Sybase skills

Return on Investment

Skilled/experienced resources are less prominent than Microsoft SQL Server or even Oracle, or MySQL, so finding solutions and assistance, if needed, takes more time than it would with other platforms
You will need to find a good SQL query tool by yourself because the Sybase Central / Interactive SQL utilities are lacking in many basic features, and just generally have a bad user interface

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database and MySQL

Ultimately, a vendor chose SQL Anywhere as their database of choice for their application. I would go with Microsoft SQL Server instead, personally. Largely this is because the tools and support are far better. However, SQL Anywhere is an ODBC-compliant database and as such it is infinitely superior to the situation where app developers roll their own crummy proprietary data store.

Other Software Used

Splunk Enterprise, NetSuite, Slack

Likelihood to Recommend

SAP SQL Anywhere is better than not using a database, let's be clear there! However, I wouldn't pick it as my first or even second or third choice. I'd recommend looking at other options. Largely, it appears less powerful both in terms of its robustness and general performance and in its implementation of SQL. The standard Sybase utilities provided are lacking in basic features, and the interactive SQL utility is quite horrendous. However, the great thing is it is an ODBC-compliant SQL-compliant relational database.

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Sybase SQL Anywhere - better than a kick in the pants