PostgreSQL versus MySQL

[Derek Neighbors]

Most MySQL issues I think have been fixed as of late with InnoDB, the 
things that used to hold it up (and still might)

1. Lack of refriential integrity (FK's)
2. No Transaction Support
3. Table Level Locking
4. No Triggers/Stored Procedures
5. Poor SQL92 Support (no db is SQL92 compliant, but some better than 
others)
6. No Subselects
7. No Unions
8. No concept of OID's or unique rows

and the list goes on.

Please note that if MySQL was to be used for things like dynamic websites 
that have a much higher read to write ratio, where table level locking is 
a plus not a minus.  And where integrity is not nearly as important (not 
business transactional systems like G/L's and the likes) MySQL is/was a 
good choice.

However the minute you step into business applications that heavy 
transaction updates and reporting, MySQL will/would nearly cripple you.  
Postgres is MUCH better suited to such tasks.

However its far from perfect.

The Free (as in libre) database to watch and use for transactional 
business applications is the GPL'd SAP-DB.  If you havent investigated it 
you might want to.

-Derek

On Mon, 24 Jun 2002, Lynn David Newton wrote:

> 
> To persons who have knowledge of both MySQL and
> PostgreSQL:
> 
> Could someone characterize the highlights and
> differences, particularly regarding PostgreSQL? I've
> been working on a project where I suggested using
> MySQL, with which I am sufficiently familiar to just
> jump right in and start using it to design a database,
> tables, etc. However, I know utterly nothing about
> PostgreSQL, and the person I'm working for believes it
> would be a better choice for the project we're working
> on, and also doesn't mind the time it will take for me
> to come up to speed on it. No problem there, I'm always
> happy for someone to pay me to learn something new, but
> I also need to get a handle on it as quickly as
> possible.
> 
> Any short bullet list of comparisons would be much
> appreciated.
> 
> And lest I forget -- congratulations to PLUG on pulling
> off what was apparently a successful event this past
> weekend. I was not able to be there myself, but
> encouraged others to go.
> 
>