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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."

11 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.
  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. 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. . . .
  7. paradigm shift! by sohp · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  8. 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

  9. 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.
  10. 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....