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The NoSQL Ecosystem

Posted by kdawson on from the no-relation dept.

abartels writes 'Unprecedented data volumes are driving businesses to look at alternatives to the traditional relational database technology that has served us well for over thirty years. Collectively, these alternatives have become known as NoSQL databases. The fundamental problem is that relational databases cannot handle many modern workloads. There are three specific problem areas: scaling out to data sets like Digg's (3 TB for green badges) or Facebook's (50 TB for inbox search) or eBay's (2 PB overall); per-server performance; and rigid schema design.'

3 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Dynamic Relational: change it, DON'T toss it by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The performance claims will probably be disputed by Oracle whizzes. However, the "rigid schema" claim bothers me. RDBMS can be built that have a very dynamic flavor to them. For example, treat each row as a map (associative array). Non-existent columns in any given row are treated as Null/empty instead of an error. Perhaps tables can also be created just by inserting a row into the (new) target table. No need for explicit schema management. Constraints, such as "required" or "number" can incrementally be added as the schema becomes solidified. We have dynamic app languages, so why not dynamic RDBMS also? Let's fiddle with and stretch RDBMS before outright tossing them. Maybe also overhaul or enhance SQL. It's a bit long in the tooth.

    More at:
    http://geocities.com/tablizer/dynrelat.htm
    (And you thought geocities was de

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  2. Everything old is new again by QuoteMstr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We didn't start with relationship databases. RDBMSes were responses to the seductive but unmanageable navigational databases that preceded them. There were good reasons for moving to relational databases, and those reasons are still valid today.

    Computer Science doesn't change because we're writing in Javascript now instead of PL/1.

  3. Re:Why worry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You laugh, but the things I see done in Excel on a daily basis in production environments getting a LOT of work done are a testament to it's power. It is one of the best rapid application development platforms in existance. People with no CS background programming away in a functional style and getting shit done and not even realising they are programming. It could be so much better but it's still the best of breed. Any yes I have tried, and seen others try, O.O. et al. Forget it. Lets not go down that worn old road.