Archive: November, 2010

NoSQL: Don’t Take the Drug Unless You Have the Symptoms

NoSQL databases are hot, and rightly so. Many of them aspire to solve some of the trickiest database problems of all, problems that have been nagging database research for decades: scaling up and scaling out.

In some trade press and other places the NoSQL discussion has to be simplified. Sometimes a casual reader may get the impression that NoSQL just makes relational databases old-fashioned. This is very far from the truth. NoSQL is there to cure specific ailments. If you don’t suffer from any of those specific symptoms, the side effects from taking NoSQL medication may cause more pain than relief. I’ll explain why and let’s see if you agree.
Continue »