Comments on: Why is MySQL more popular than PostgreSQL?

By: Alberto Piva

Alberto Piva — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:03:04 +0000

My experience:
- tried Wamp (Windows, apache, mysql, php, 2 mins to install): 2 mins later, I was inserting from php page… wow, I could insert invalid data without error!
- tried Wapp (windows, apache, PostgreSQL, phph, 3 min to install): 2 mins later, I was inserting from php page…wow, error message: value too long for type character varying(60).
- MySql throwed away 20 seconds later
At work I play with Sql Server 2K5, for me data consistency is in first place

By: James T. Jirk

James T. Jirk — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:25:51 +0000

It all comes down to this:

MySQL is a way cuter name than PostgreSQL. I don’t even know how to pronounce PostgreSQL, and whenever I try to pronounce it I feel stupid and/or pretentious.

I’ve used both. Not an expert in either. But as far as I can tell, both are awesome. And I also like Firebird, which is underrated. However, it’s definitely true that MySQL has momentum behind it. More web hosts offer MySQL, for example.

They should change the name of PostgreSQL to FastSQL or RadSQL or NeatSQL or UltraSQL or KillerSQL or FireSQL or something like that. Oh! I’ve got it! SexSQL. Then do a marketing blitz to make people believe that SexSQL is already the world’s most popular open source database.

By: Xaprb

Xaprb — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:17:47 +0000

You know, I’m more convinced than ever that it’s how people FEEL in many cases. And there’s nothing wrong with that — I FEEL happier using Free Software, and that’s among my most important reasons to do so.

By: Alfred R. Baudisch

Alfred R. Baudisch — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:27:55 +0000

I’m lucky that I started Web programming using PostgreSQL, I just don’t remember why.

I once made a big portal, and the client required the project to be in MySQL. Well, I tried to use all the advanced features I always used with PostgreSQL. What can I tell? The database goes down at least 2 times/week. On the other hand, all my PostgreSQL applications and websites NEVER went down.

I don’t know if I did something wrong with that MySQL architecture or what, but when I think in MySQL I feel like stopping developing forever, it feels like is somewhat taking my knowledge away, “use this hobbyist tool”.

By: Jackson

Jackson — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:20:08 +0000

In terms of performance of MySQL vs Postgres it now seems that Postgres is much faster for the traditional “read” loads that mysql used to be great at.

See page 15 of the following PDF for example (the PDF is an interesting read in itself) where the FreeBSD team found that PG was about 40% faster!

http://people.freebsd.org/~kris/scaling/7.0%20and%20beyond.pdf