THE TOP FREE AND OPEN SOURCE DATABASE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Today we do not have to worry regarding database management software, since free database software and open source solutions are abundant and used greatly by both students and professionals. Since IT departments are operating on miniscule budgets, cutting costs isgreat for both running business and keeping the IT market flowing. Everyone likes free stuff. So let’s check out these few free database software and open source DBM solutions to keep your department on budget.

CUBRID

It is a free and open source option optimized specifically for web applications. It is mostly helpful when complex web services process large amounts of data and generate huge concurrent requests. This solution is implemented in C.

Pros

• Multiple granularity locking
• Online backup
• GUI tools and drivers for development languages:
• JDBC, PHP, Python, Perl, and Ruby.
• Auto-failover feature with 24/7 online web service
• Supports native DB sharding for horizontal/vertical scalability
• Large systems divide data over multiple database instances
• Database replication and transaction consistency

Cons

• Doesn’t work with Apple systems
• No script debugger
• Manual only comes in English or Korean

Firebird

This relational database has been used in production systems under a variety of names since early 1981. It features many ANSI SQL standards. Firebird is capable of running on Linux, Windows, and various Unix platforms.

Pros

• Trace API for real-time monitoring
• Windows-trusted authentication
• Four supported architectures: SuperClassic, Classic, SuperServer, and Embedded
• Variety of development tools
• Commercial tools: FIBPlus and IBObjects
• Automatic sweep option to clean database
• Event notifications from database triggers and stored procedures
• Free support through Firebird’s large global community

Cons

• Integrated replication support isn’t included (only as add-on)
• Lacks temporary tables and integration with other database systems
• Windows-trusted authentication lacking in comparison to other OS solutions

MariaDB

MariaDB is made by the original developers of MySQL. It is mostly used by tech giants like Wikipedia, Facebook, and even Google. This database server serves as a drop-in replacement functionality for MySQL. For MariaDB developers, security has become the top concern and priority. In each of its release, the developers merge in all of MySQL’s security patches and enhance them if required.

Pros

• High scalability with easy integration
• Real-time access
• Core functionality of MySQL as MariaDB is a MySQL alternative
• Alternate storage engines, server optimizations, and patches
• Extensive knowledge base compiled over the 20 years MariaDB has been operating

Cons

• Missing password complexity plugin
• No memcached interface
• No optimizer trace

MongoDB

MongoDB is known as the “database for giant ideas.” It was developed in 2007 by the people behind DoubleClick, ShopWiki, and Gilt Groupe. MongoDB is also backed by popular investors such as Fidelity Investments, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and Intel Capital. Since it has released in the market, MongoDB has been downloaded 20 million times and is supported by more than 1,000 partners. These partners are dedicated to this free and open source solution’s belief that coding and databases should be simple and natural.

Pros

• Document validation
• Encrypted storage engine
• Common use cases:
• Mobile apps
• Product catalogs
• Content management
• Real-time apps with in-memory storage engine (beta)
• Reduces time between primary failure and recovery

Cons

• Doesn’t fit applications needing complex transactions
• Not a drop-in replacement for legacy applications
• Young solution: software changes and evolves quickly

MySQL

The most common software, MySQL has been in use since 1995 and is now owned by Oracle. Although it is open source, several paid editions are available that offer additional features, like cluster geo-replication and automatic scaling. Due to its industry standard, MySQL is compatible with almost every operating system and written in both C and C++. This solution is a great option for international users since the server can provide error messages to clients in multiple languages, encompassing support for several different character sets.

Pros

• Host-based verification
• Can be used even when no network is available
• Flexible privilege and password system
• Security encryption of all password traffic
• Library that can be embedded into standalone applications
• Provides server as separate program for client/server networked environment

Cons

• Acquired by Oracle
• Users feel MySQL no longer falls under free and OS
• No longer community driven
• Members can’t fix bugs and craft patches
• Falls behind others due to slow updates

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL has been running in the market for more than 15 years providing active development. You can say it is another great open source option, running on all major operating systems, including Linux, UNIX (AIX, BSD, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, Mac OS X, Solaris, Tru64), and Windows. PostgreSQL is also fully ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) compliant.

Pros

• Create custom data types and query methods
• Framework enables definition and creation of own custom data types
• Runs stored procedures in more than a dozen programming languages:
• Java, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, C/C++, and its own PL/pgSQL
• GiST (Generalized Search Tree) system
• Brings together different sorting and searching algorithms:
• B-tree, B+-tree, R-tree, partial sum trees, and ranked B+-trees
• Creation of extensions like CitusDB for more parallelism without modifying Postgres code

Cons

• MVCC system requires regular “vacuuming”
• Problems in high transaction rate environments
• Development is done by broad community
• Fair amount of effort for improvements added

SQLite

This database software is the most widely deployed database in the world. Starting from 2000, it has been used by notable companies like Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google. Each release is carefully tested to ensure reliability. Even if there are bugs, the developers of SQLite try to resolves it as soon as possible or provides bug lists and chronologies of code changes for every release.

Pros

• No separate server process
• File format is cross-platform
• Compact library: runs faster even with more memory
• Transactions are ACID compliant
• Professional support also available

Cons

• Not recommended for Client/Server applications
• High-volume websites
• Large datasets