Comments on: Which Database to Start With?

By: Vishwa

Vishwa — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:46:37 +0000

I am a beginner and I’ve tried with hsqldb, mysql and oracle.

MySql I thought was supposed to be a simple db, and there were lots of tutorial-code on net, where MySql was used. But then, I got bugged with its configuration diagnosis !!! Previous configurations remained intact even when I had updated them !!!

Oracle, though installation took a lot of time, was very clean, and easy to use !

Hsqldb was simple and easy. But I dint find good tools to use along with it. Maybe I din’t look much.

Nice post !

By: Raj

Raj — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:57:18 +0000

I prefer..
1. PostgreSQL
2. MySQL
3. MS SQL – Express

By: Kovica

Kovica — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:14:49 +0000

couple of years are I’d go with PostgreSQL, but now that DB2 has Express-C edition that is free, I’d go with it. I’d use it for small projects where database does not use more than 2cores and 2GB or RAM. For a project that would get funding I’d go with other DB2 editions, depending on the funding. 🙂

By: Henry Ho

Henry Ho — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:40:21 +0000

Microsoft SQL Server Express, free.

By: scot mcphee

scot mcphee — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:28:49 +0000

This is a bit arbitrary I think. For a start, in Oracle-land, there is the free Oracle XE. That one’s saved my butt a few times when I needed to write “proper” Oracle PL/SQL for things like procedures that will run correct and exactly the same on a big installation. So Oracle XE is very powerful and fully featured except for it’s maximum allowed database size (4GB) and users (5, I think).

In other arenas big IBM shops will often have DB2, it’s very powerful.

I can also vouch for PostgreSQL – of the fully free databases it’s my pick over MySQL, which in my experience tends to be non-standard in things like connection protocols, and in the confusing array of underlying database file types, which influence what features you get. PostGreSQL feels more like a “real” database, it’s powerful and fast and is free and I highly recommend it for people needing a powerful but free db alternative.

Derby is OK, HSQL OK, but mostly for the purposes of testing and development.

By: Scott Selikoff

Scott Selikoff — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:53:59 +0000

Don’t get me started on Derby, I had the misfortune of using it on a J2EE project I inheritted. Most unstable DBMS I’ve ever used, and I’ve used them all.

By: Jeanne Boyarsky

Jeanne Boyarsky — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:30:19 +0000

I found PostgreSQL to be just as easy to install locally as mySql.

By: pratik patel

pratik patel — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:17:11 +0000

Use PostreSQL. You won’t be sorry. It’s more a full featured DB.

By: Jose Fernandez

Jose Fernandez — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:02:19 +0000

I thought I saw plenty of tools for Oracle myself, but granted, not many free ones. My coworker raves about SQL Developer.

I wouldn’t recommend MS SQL Server to start with as there are too many non-standard syntax conventions.

PostgreSQL has probably the most compliant syntax out there and would be great for a beginner. They would have the least amount of trouble getting something working from any ordinary SQL book.

By: Marcos Hernandez

Marcos Hernandez — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:13:38 +0000

In Oracle exist the express edition too, with limit to 4 GB. Exist a tool, SQL Developer and is free. In comercial version include power tools to manipulate the database.