SQLServerCentral Editorial

NoSQL inside SQL Server

,

There has been quite a debate the last few years between using NoSQL and SQL Server as data stores for different applications. We've seen a great deal of interest from developers in document stores as the data structures are closer to what a C# or Java developer sees in their code. Graph databases are becoming popular for certain types of data as well, since their query performance can be extremely powerful in some cases. There are also the scalability aspects of NoSQL systems touted as a better way to build Internet based applications.

However NoSQL databases aren't the ultimate data store. There are pros and cons to using them, and while it might be easier to being development on one for an application developer, I would argue it's just as easy to get caught mis-using a graph database or a document database as it is to poorly program a relational database.

This week, in advance of the SQL Server 2016 release, I caught a post from the SQL Server storage engine team showing how JSON storage inside of a table can provide some NoSQL-like benefits to applications. It's a good idea, but like many NoSQL solutions, you need to spend a bit of time examining your particular requirements. If you need to update your JSON often, especially in large batches, this might not prove to be a good idea, especially if you need consistency. 

I think ultimately that everything does relate to the CAP theorem, precisely because data has to exist somewhere, and anytime you need to duplicate it, move it, aggregate it, or anything to relieve some other issue, then there isn't any magic taking place. You're going to have to do work to move the data. Some platforms may make that easier, but I bet there are other drawbacks that you will have to consider.

Ultimately I think you need to pick the platform that best suits your environments. That's not only the application requirements, but also the developers' skills, the operational staff's ability to manage the platform, and the maturity of the platform. Those are tough questions, and while I'm glad people experiment with new systems, I do hope that they think carefully about the positives and negatives, and more importantly, share their experiences with the rest of our industry.

Rate

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

Share

Share

Rate

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating