What is the best DBMS for the job? [closed]

Question

Just had a discussion at work about the merits of using PostgreSQL over MySQL and vice-versa. Does anyone have any practical experience where there is a valid reason to use one over the other?

Some people were saying that Postgre is better for security purposes whereas MySQL is becoming more feature rich... I'm not sure what to make of it.

Answer 1

The simple answer is that postgres is better for both features and security.

However, MySQL is much more popular, so is more likely to be directly supported by a random application, especially web applications. MySQL also makes claims to be faster (probably since it has less features).

There are thousands of web pages devoted to this very topic.

Answer 2

If you are using the DBMS for website with no transactional needs - your choice is MySQL with MyISAM engine. If you are develop the more industrial software - then PostgreSQL. The amazing feature from PostgreSQL is writing stored procedures in different languages not only PL/PgSQL. There can be C, Python, PERL... anything you want and for which the language handler exists.

Answer 3

I have used both and even migrated projects from MySQL to PostgreSQL and in my experience PostgreSQL was the better choice. For my applications it was at least on par speed wise with MySQL and offered needed features not found in MySQL. That being said, if MySQL meets your needs, it is a good little dbms and like other dbms' continues to improve.

Answer 4

Could write a new answer here, but there are so many existing ones it's tough to get motived to:

• Is MySQL appropriate for a read-heavy database with 3.5m+ rows?
• Pros/Cons of MySQL vs Postgresql for production Ruby on Rails environment?
• Best database engine for huge datasets
• Postgres or MySQL For Web Applications?
• MySQL vs PostgreSQL for Web Applications
• Why isn’t PostgreSQL as widespread as MySQL?
• How different is PostgreSQL to MySQL?

Answer 5

Take a look at this notice that it's coming from Postgresql.org though

Answer 6

This isn't really first-hand knowledge, but...

From what I've heard about speed:
MySQL's MyISAM is faster than PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is faster than MySQL's InnoDB

(Note that I've never used PostgreSQL, only MySQL)