RESetting the record Straight on Oracle

[kaihirst]

Hi,

Over recent posts, much has been said about the uses, and abuses of Oracle compared to SQL Server, mySQL, Access, Foxpro, Alpha, DBAse, Intrabase, and all the other "Smaller" (in the loosest sense for SQL Server) platforms and their uses.

As most of you probably know (or dont) I run a rather sucesfull development comapny in Britain and am one of the few (2 to be precise..) to have a fully working, dedicated Oracle development environment that is used for commercial development and, I think people have got mis-understood about the environment.

Oracle is essentially used for commercial and corporate intranet useage and large scale intranet development, and in some larger cases, Web commerce back end support. This is why it is massive, comes in several different components and costs a small fortune, and difficult to get to grips with.

It is not meant to be a home system (I know they have brought a home system out, but still the stigmatism remains on its reputation..) nor will it ever be. the web system is designed to be used with openDSV (for those at home, this is the most secure web firewall in existence), a dedicated server with at least 1 very fast processor adn a load of memory, or more commcerially, a 2 processor server, to whcih is recommended.

Compared to MS SQL Server 200/2003, which needs roughly 512mb, 500MHZ or more of processor speed, 100MB of hdd, you know the score. Oracle needs about 1gb for the full system and needs alot of attention indeed. It uses its own version of SQL (pl/SQL), however you can use ANSI Standard but you do need a clear understanding of this and the differences and naunces of the two languages, if you are looking at Interoperability betwen applications.

Compare this with its nearest Rival, SQL server, it is clear to see what is best for the larger number of you, SQL Server has quicker response times in remote data connections, easier to build your own dynamic reports and use in conjunction with Crystal Reports and more scaleable when building your won applications as it provides more scope for the average user, and SQL server itself is developed in C++, which as you all know, a higly powerful intermediary indeed.

Compare this with Oracle, very little documentation and the same scope for the home developer, the OS it is aimed at is testament in itself, (Linux and Unix is no peice of cake at all...) and the language Oracle is written in is a high performance highly object orientated language (J2EE), and is aimed at the Java Developer/Commercial business application developer. (however you can develop using the .NET family of languages and connect to oracle using Data connection services, it only slightly alleviates to the in-accessability.)

On the Whole. Oracle is not a bad system, youre all comparing it to MS SQL and mySQL to which are aimed at slightly different audiences. (SQL server when you look at it closely is more closer to Alpha five Database server family rather than Oracle, however SQL is far better for interoperability with its language framework polymorphism and its objectiveness.)

Hope this sets the record straight...

ta

Kai

[Hack]

This should be in the General Developer forum as I think it might spark some interest and debate.

Compare this with its nearest Rival, SQL server, it is clear to see what is best for the larger number of you, SQL Server has quicker response times in remote data connections, easier to build your own dynamic reports and use in conjunction with Crystal Reports and more scaleable when building your won applications as it provides more scope for the average user, and SQL server itself is developed in C++, which as you all know, a higly powerful intermediary indeed.

I have used Crystal Reports in both an Oracle and SQL Server environment, and found that neither is easier than the other in terms of building, using and calling reports, so I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but overall, I agree with the rest of this post.

[kaihirst]

Hi,

What I meant was that there is more documentation with SQL Server for Crystal Reports and more support modules within the on line help. In addition tho this, there are more updates and trinkets available to help you on your way.

with Oracle, it places more emphasis on the user knowing what he wnts and needs, and places more emphasis on custom reports withot the use of the crystal model.

ta

kai

[GaryMazzone]

Personnaly I find Oracle much more configurable to indivual portions. Creating multile tablespaces with different block sizes as an example to allow for effecient use of the datafiles in storing tables of differnet sizes.

[Hack]

I also found Oracle more stable than SQL Server when dealing with millions and millions of records (but that might also been a difference between DBAs )

[kaihirst]

The reason it handles beter with larger tablers and databses is becuase this is what it was designed for.

If you look at he core architecture of Oracle, one ofothe main proponents of the strableness of the platform is the amount of memory it takes, generally, oracle is meant to be on its own server under its own standard (wll, I say standrad, the default) setup withits own processor (or two if your runnig the 10g server for HP-UX).

On the whole oracle is a more stable working database system as it was never meant for home use, therefore never made for any system that would enpower the home developer to have it, unless he or she goes out and builds a blody big server!!

ta

kai