Open Source Databases - Quick Reference

Open Source Database: Overview

Open source databases are designed, developed, and distributed with source code freely accessible. Their popularity grew with the expansion of internet users and web-based applications, and the term “open source” emphasizes software that is freely shared with the public.

Advantages of Open Source Software

Advantages include flexibility, availability, and reliability, plus freedom to share and modify. Software updates are available online, and modifications can be redistributed; there are typically no fees for updates or new versions.

Disadvantages of Open Source Software

Disadvantages include limited and not-free support, potential intellectual property infringement, and that quality cannot be guaranteed.

MySQL

MySQL is an open source relational database management system (RDBMS) that provides robust functionalities for managing information. Features include cross-platform support; stored procedures and triggers; storage engine support; query caching; support for database replication; cursors and views.

Quick Facts: First release: May $23$, $1995$; Michael Widenius and David Axmark originated MySQL; developed by MySQL AB; developed in C/C++; previously acquired by Sun Microsystems and is now part of Oracle; licensed under the GNU General Public License.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an open source object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) which supports server-side scripting languages and data warehousing. Features include functions; indexes and views; triggers and transactions; multiversion concurrency control (MVCC); user-defined objects; inheritance; referential integrity; regular expressions.

Quick Facts: Released on June $1989$; Yahoo and MySpace are among prominent users; developed in C; BSD license.

Firebird

Firebird is an open source relational database management system supported by GNU/Linux, Windows, and UNIX platforms. Software developers used SourceForge as central repository of source code collected from the developers to administer open source software development. Features include stored procedures and triggers; ACID transactions; referential integrity; multiversion concurrency control; incremental backups; supports GUI administrative and replication.

Quick Facts: Released on March $11$, $2002$; Developer: Firebird Project aka Project Phoenix; Developed in C++; Interbase Public License (IPL), Initial Developer’s Public License (IDPL).

Apache Derby

Apache Derby is an open source Java relational database management system that supports online transaction processing and can also be integrated with Java programs. It also supports IBM DB2 SQL syntax to enhance software scalability and flexibility. Features include cross-platform support; supports IBM DB2 SQL; supports Java programs and JDBC drivers; supports client/server architecture.

Quick Facts: Released on $1997$; Developer: Apache Software Foundation; Developed in Java.

MaxDB

MaxDB is one of the well-known open source database management systems developed by SAP AG. Development of MaxDB started as a research project at the Technical University of Berlin. Features include cross platform support; terabyte-range data support; supports JDBC, ODBC, and SQLDBC drivers; supports backup and recovery; clustering support; GUI-based installation and manager.

Quick Facts: Released on $2003$; GNU General Public License; SAP MaxDB.

Benefits of Using Open Source Database Systems

Reliability — users can expect that open source database systems can perform tasks/procedures in a specified period of time. Stability — developers ensure that database systems are continually checked to sustain user requirements in transaction processing as well as making software more stable and efficient. Auditability — allowing users to access code bases will help easily identify software bugs. Cost — open source database systems are available for free.