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Are Relational Databases Obsolete?

Posted by kdawson on from the long-in-the-tooth dept.

jpkunst sends us to Computerworld for a look at Michael Stonebraker's opinion that RDBMSs "should be considered legacy technology." Computerworld adds some background and analysis to Stonebraker's comments, which appear in a new blog, The Database Column. Stonebraker co-created the Ingres and Postgres technology while a researcher at UC Berkeley in the early 1970s. He predicts that "column stores will take over the [data] warehouse market over time, completely displacing row stores."

16 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. C'mon, the guy is biased! by winkydink · · Score: 4, Funny

    The name of his blog is The Database Column after all.

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

    1. Re:C'mon, the guy is biased! by everphilski · · Score: 4, Funny

      database row would sound too much like prison :P

  2. Rotate by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 5, Funny

    >"column stores will take over the [data] warehouse market over time, completely displacing row stores."

    Hmmmm. So if I rotate my Paradox or Excel table by 90 degrees, I have achieved database coolness? Who knew it was so easy.

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
    1. Re:Rotate by kpainter · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmmm. So if I rotate my Paradox or Excel table by 90 degrees, I have achieved database coolness? Who knew it was so easy. I tried that but my neck gets tired after a few minutes.
    2. Re:Rotate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      ". . . more than 255 columns, chances are, you're doing it wrong"

      Because there are only 254 days in the year

  3. Re:They're not mutually exclusive. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well I just turned my server on its side and now all my tables are storing in columns. I love new technology.

  4. Re : Are Relational Databases Obsolete? by littlefoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    No. There, that was easy !

    It's like the packet of crisps that says "Is there a 20 pound note in here !!?" - the answer should always be 'No'.

    Except maybe for one person.

    sed -e 's/crisps/potato chips/' -e 's/pound/dollar/'

  5. Aha! by Stanistani · · Score: 4, Funny

    The next big thing in DBMS:
    turning your head sideways.

    --
    You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
  6. Re:dual-mode db? by stoolpigeon · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can get MS SQL Server to store tables differently than the default? It will write columns to disk as opposed to rows? You can store columns in their own files? It's been a few years since I worked with SQL Server - but I really don't remember those features. Is it a SQL Server 2005 thing?

    --
    It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
  7. Simple solution. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Funny

    I tried turning my Oracle server on its side to get column-store access. Strangely, I didn't see any increase in performance. Perhaps I'll try the other side...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  8. Re:Re : Are Relational Databases Obsolete? by ahem · · Score: 2, Funny
    Your sed is missing two expressions for full i18n:

    sed -e 's/crisps/potato chips/' -e 's/pound/dollar/' -e 's/note/bill/' -e 's/packet/bag/'

    --
    Not A Sig
  9. paradigm shift! by sohp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Along with Procedural Programming, this could REVOLUTIONIZE the software industry!!

  10. Soon... by lpangelrob · · Score: 3, Funny

    The near future. Mr. Stonebraker walks into a store.

    Mr. Stonebraker: How much are these plums?
    Checkout girl: Plums? They're $0.99, $1.39, $12.49, $15.99, $26.38, $13.37...

    --
    -Rob

    Biblical fiscal responsibility

  11. Re:Yea, it's all the same. by GeckoX · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've got it!

    Cell-based storage!!! Best of both worlds!!! Mix of both Row and Column based storage, how can we go wrong!

    Just think about it, what could be better than one file for each column in each row?

    And they said I couldn't have my cake and eat it too, sheesh ;)

    --
    No Comment.
  12. Re:Yea, it's all the same. by jkrise · · Score: 5, Funny

    I went back and read the original article....

    Oh, the horror! That's a heinous crime on Slashdot! Not even the editors do that!!!

    --
    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  13. Far from it! by jbeaupre · · Score: 2, Funny

    Living in Kentucky, I can tell you a relational database would be handy if actually used. Why I've got in-laws that, well, I won't go into details. Let's just say I suspect my wife married an out of stater for fresh genes.

    What? Not that kind of relational?

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.