Our Picks from the World of Linux Databases

Databases are important components of any computer program alongside the coding and execution. Programmers use relational databases configured according to key data sets to make an operation faster and easily accessible. Coined by Edgar Codd, an IBM engineer some time back, efficient, easily accessible relational databases are a must to any system, whether part of a single machine-based operation, a small enterprise or a large corporation.

When it comes to databases, Linux systems support a wide array of these which can be divided into two categories – closed source and open source, both of which are mostly free of cost. Of the closed source systems, Oracle Database, IBM’s DB2 and the monstrous workhorse MaxDB are noteworthy. However, this post would delve more into the open source, free Linux databases commonly used on general systems.
Open source Linux databases give a system admin the freedom to configure them according to their requirements, resulting in better systems with higher speed and accessibility. Below is a list of 5 different Linux-based databases, with descriptions of their respective technical specification and field of use.
MySQL – With over 11 million installations worldwide, MySQL is the most commonly used database on general systems. It comes with a strong transactional database machine that works as a server for multiple users to access data collections holding terabytes of information with very little footprint. This high-end query application has been consistently praised by a number of companies like Adobe and YouTube.
PostgreSQL – Following over 15 years of development based on the POSTGRES, PostgreSQL is perhaps the most feature-rich relational database out there. Almost all the common languages, including Java, C++, Ruby, Perl, Python and more, support this object-relational management system. Linux Journal Editors recognized it as the best database management system in 2005 and 2006.
Firebird – Rich with ANSI SQL-99 options, Firebird is a fast, smooth option for triggers and stored procedures along with great language support. The three flavors of this database-based server – Classic, Embedded and SuperServer – all serve the common purpose of creating and running databases, handling SQL queries and performing backup operations while leaving very little in terms of digital footprint.
Ingres – Popular for handling large chunks of government and enterprise data, Ingres was originally developed by the US defense agency. This relational database management system helps to automate common enterprise operations to run the system faster and make it more accessible.
Openlink Virtuoso – A rather versatile database management system, Openlink Virtuoso is a popular middleware application that comes rich with common relational and virtual databases accompanied by XML, RDF and web application servers all in one place. Better operationally on multiple CPUs with threading support, this system provides with real-time access to data sources while serving smooth integration of application logic like J2EE and Mono ECMA-CLI. It is also a cross-platform support system for technological advancements like Unified Storage, XML and RDF Data Management, as well as Object-Relational Data Management.
However, regardless of the popularity of any given database management system, you should pick yours based on your requirement, resources and expertise.