Hello there. In addition to what Alexander has already said, I'll add my own demented theories into the mix.
In comparison to MySQL, MaxDB is a very different sort of database. I mean, let's start with the role separation that is enforced in MaxDB: MySQL has no such granularity. Then take something like instances: for people new to MaxDB, or databases with an instance concept, the concept of starting databases on _an individual basis_ is absolutely strange. At least, at first. I could go on and on.
Are these really great features keeping MaxDB down? Absolutely not.
You see I believe the success of an open source project has very little to do with how _good_ it is. Just like the quality of a commercial project has little to do with its success. Take for example: OS X, BeOS, or hey, how about OS/2? Does anybody remember XyWrite?
Assuming all things equal, the real breaking point is in the *documentation*. It needs to be easy to use, easy to understand, and informative. The problem is, IMHO, that people new to MaxDB find the documentation system very very difficult. Not just to use, but to understand as well.
Take for example something like PHP: PHP's documentation is _awesome_.
Another example, MySQL: you can view the docs as a single HTML file, you can search it, and it is very very easy to understand. There's links that show the exact syntax of the SELECT statement, for example. This may sound trivial, but try to find the same thing in MaxDB's docs.
So place yourself in the position of someone who has to code an application: your boss wants something yesterday---are you going to spend the time necessary just to get MaxDB running, or are you going to go with something you can---after doing a little reading---make produce results?
Is this because MaxDB is not conducive to rapid development? Absolutely not. I've noticed that, in MaxDB, I can actually develop MUCH faster. The problem (I think) is that the process of taking a new user from the beginning---knowing nothing---to the point where they can create tables so forth can be frustrating.
I'm trying to bridge this gap with my book, Enterprise MySQL. I'm trying to create something, that (I hope), will bring many more users into the MaxDB community. In addition, I don't know who is the doc maintainer, but I'd be interested in helping, if such a position were to be available. Anything to help out.
Just my thoughts...Cheers,
JLS
Schroeder, Alexander wrote:
Hello Pratik,
first you should of course also look at the uses of SAP DB, which was the name of previous versions of MySQL MaxDB before the cooperation with MySQL took place. You might find more uses by looking for this too ...
Second, MySQL has a longer history in the open source world, and is/was bundled with almost all Linux distributions, and it was advertised
more as a solution for building web sites (see the LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) acronym).
You should look at the features of the database product you will need for your project, and compare then only products that support these features for other properties - otherwise you will end up comparing apples with oranges.
Alexander Schr�der SAP DB, SAP Labs Berlin ----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 12:08 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Why MySQL is used instead of MaxDB?
Hi Friends,
I am working on a pilot project that will introduce open source databases in my organisation.
In my search I have found that MySQL and MaxDB both are open source databases, but MaxDB is being used very less in comparison to MySQL. If I link this with the fact that MaxDB provides many advanced features that MySQL dowsn't provide, first question that hits my mind is why is it so? Why MySQL is used more in comparison to MaxDB????
I am unable to find any genuine reason behind this, hope you can help me out!!!!
Thanks & Regards...
Pratik Ajmera
Tata Consultancy Services
Raheja Green,
Kulupwadi Road, Borivali (East)
Mumbai - 400 066,Maharashtra
India
Ph:- +91-22-56688712
Mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Website: http://www.tcs.com ForwardSourceID:NT00003FDE
-- MaxDB Discussion Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/maxdb To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
