Pros of MySQL Server

• Larger community and more extensive ecosystem of tools and resources
• Better performance for read-heavy workloads and specific use cases
• More frequent updates and releases

Cons of MySQL Server

• Proprietary licensing for some features and enterprise editions
• Less transparent development process compared to MariaDB
• Slower adoption of new features and innovations

Code Comparison

MySQL Server:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(50),
    email VARCHAR(100) UNIQUE,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

MariaDB Server:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(50),
    email VARCHAR(100) UNIQUE,
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

The basic SQL syntax for creating tables is identical in both MySQL and MariaDB, as MariaDB was originally forked from MySQL. However, differences may arise in advanced features, storage engines, and specific optimizations. For example, MariaDB supports additional storage engines like Aria and ColumnStore, which are not available in MySQL.

Pros of Postgres

• More advanced features like table inheritance and custom data types
• Better support for concurrent transactions and ACID compliance
• Stronger community-driven development with frequent updates

Cons of Postgres

• Generally slower performance for read-heavy workloads
• Higher resource consumption, especially memory usage
• Steeper learning curve for administration and optimization

Code Comparison

Postgres:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    created_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

MariaDB:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

The main differences in this example are:

• Postgres uses SERIAL for auto-incrementing columns, while MariaDB uses AUTO_INCREMENT
• Postgres supports WITH TIME ZONE for timestamp columns, offering better timezone handling
• Syntax for default values is slightly different

Both databases offer similar basic SQL functionality, but Postgres generally provides more advanced features and stricter adherence to SQL standards.

Pros of CockroachDB

• Designed for horizontal scalability and distributed architecture
• Built-in support for geo-partitioning and multi-region deployments
• Strong consistency model with serializable isolation

Cons of CockroachDB

• Higher resource consumption and overhead
• Steeper learning curve for administration and optimization
• Limited support for legacy applications and tools

Code Comparison

MariaDB (SQL syntax):

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
  name VARCHAR(255),
  email VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE
);

CockroachDB (SQL syntax):

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT unique_rowid(),
  name STRING,
  email STRING UNIQUE
);

Both databases use SQL, but CockroachDB has some syntax differences:

• Uses STRING instead of VARCHAR
• unique_rowid() function for auto-incrementing IDs
• No need for explicit AUTO_INCREMENT keyword

CockroachDB also supports distributed SQL operations:

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name STRING,
  email STRING UNIQUE
) PARTITION BY LIST (id) (
  PARTITION us VALUES IN (1, 2, 3),
  PARTITION eu VALUES IN (4, 5, 6)
);

This partitioning feature allows for geo-distributed data storage, which is not natively supported in MariaDB.

Pros of CouchDB

• Document-oriented NoSQL database, ideal for flexible schema and JSON data
• Built-in support for multi-master replication and offline-first applications
• RESTful HTTP API for easy integration with web applications

Cons of CouchDB

• Less suitable for complex relational data structures and joins
• May require more storage space due to document-based storage model
• Limited support for complex queries compared to SQL databases

Code Comparison

MariaDB (SQL):

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(50),
  email VARCHAR(100)
);
INSERT INTO users VALUES (1, 'John Doe', 'john@example.com');

CouchDB (JSON):

{
  "_id": "user:1",
  "name": "John Doe",
  "email": "john@example.com"
}

Summary

MariaDB is a relational database system, while CouchDB is a document-oriented NoSQL database. MariaDB excels in structured data and complex queries, whereas CouchDB offers flexibility and easy replication. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project, such as data structure, scalability needs, and application architecture.

Pros of MongoDB

• Flexible schema design allows for easier adaptation to changing data structures
• Better performance for large-scale, high-volume data operations
• Native support for JSON-like documents, simplifying data modeling for modern applications

Cons of MongoDB

• Less mature and battle-tested compared to MariaDB's long history
• Lacks built-in support for complex joins and transactions (prior to version 4.0)
• Higher memory usage due to document-based storage model

Code Comparison

MongoDB query:

db.users.find({ age: { $gt: 18 } }).sort({ name: 1 })

MariaDB query:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 18 ORDER BY name ASC;

Key Differences

• MongoDB uses a document-based model, while MariaDB uses a relational model
• MongoDB queries are typically written in JavaScript, MariaDB uses SQL
• MongoDB scales horizontally more easily, MariaDB excels in vertical scaling
• MariaDB offers stronger ACID compliance out of the box
• MongoDB provides better support for unstructured and semi-structured data

Both databases have their strengths and are suited for different use cases. MongoDB shines in scenarios requiring flexibility and scalability, while MariaDB is ideal for applications with complex relationships and strict data integrity requirements.

Pros of SQLite

• Serverless and self-contained, requiring no external dependencies
• Extremely lightweight and portable, ideal for embedded systems and mobile apps
• Zero-configuration setup, making it easy to use out of the box

Cons of SQLite

• Limited concurrency support, not suitable for high-volume multi-user applications
• Lacks advanced features like user management and fine-grained access control
• Limited scalability compared to full-fledged database management systems

Code Comparison

SQLite:

sqlite3 *db;
sqlite3_open("example.db", &db);
sqlite3_exec(db, "CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER, name TEXT);", NULL, NULL, NULL);
sqlite3_close(db);

MariaDB:

MYSQL *conn;
conn = mysql_init(NULL);
mysql_real_connect(conn, "localhost", "user", "password", "database", 0, NULL, 0);
mysql_query(conn, "CREATE TABLE users (id INT, name VARCHAR(255));");
mysql_close(conn);

Both examples demonstrate basic database operations, but SQLite's simplicity is evident in its serverless nature and lack of connection parameters.