NoSQL database(s) - anyone familiar?

[barney]

Folk,

In preparation to [re]enter the rat race, at least for a bit, I've been looking at database alternatives.  Ran across a reference to NoSQL , a class of non-RDBMS databases particularly suited to Web site utilization.  Searched the forum, via Google & via the internal search engine, but found no mention.

From what I've read, the concept is appealing, but I'd like to see some hands-on comments as to the advantages/disadvantages of the product and the implementation.  While there are some Windows binaries, the product seems mostly aimed at Linux servers.  But I've yet to find anything that says yea or nay about installing it on a shared server.

Anyone have any experience with NoSQL?

[40hz]

You might find this paper helpful. It was one of the first things I read when I heard about NoSQL. It's a very readable introduction along with several excellent examples of how NoSQL can be implemented.

Abstract

No Relation: The Mixed Blessings of Non-Relational Databases

Ian Thomas Varley, M.S.E. The University of Texas at Austin, 2009  Co-Supervisors:  Adnan Aziz and Daniel Miranker  

This paper investigates a new class of database systems loosely referred to as "non-relational databases," which offer a subset of traditional relational database functionality, in exchange for improved scalability, performance, and / or simplicity. We explore the differences in conceptual modeling techniques, and examine both the advantages and limitations of several classes of currently available systems, using running examples of real-world problems as implemented in both a traditional relational database model, as well as several non-relational models.

Download link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/24330945/No-Relation-The-Mixed-Blessings-of-Non-Relational-Databases

[barney]

Woof!  It was a job to get that file.  Tried seven (7) different PDF [Windows] printers, finally had to subscribe to Scribd - a process much more drawn out than it should have to be - before I could download it.  I did get through the first 35 pages - all that one of the PDF printers would produce - and I'll get through the rest in the next couple of days, even though my preferred learning method is kinesthetic, not visual.  The document is a bit clearer than the others I've seen.

That said, what I'd really like to find is reviews/comparisons/testimonials anent the various flavours of NoSQL by folk who've actually used it.  Searches have provided me little of content in that respect.  I'm looking for the usual stuff from folk who have had some experience with it:  why they chose it, how it worked for them, the upsides & downsides of their application of it.  On the face of it, I've seen very little to tempt me to change from MySQL.  In fact, most of what I've seen implies that I'll need to learn Python in order to really make use of any of the NoSQL applications available.

Granted, that opinion's based upon a cursory inspection of the few implementations I've seen, and is subject to change.  Long and the short of it, though, is that I've seen no compelling reason to change my current methodology, other than just doing something new and different.  I like new and different, but where a client is involved, it's difficult to justify experimentation w/o some reasonable expectation of a better outcome.

[zridling]

This topic was the subject of an article by Reuven M. Lerner in the latest Linux Journal. Here are some interesting resources:

Videos and presentations from the NoSQL Conference in mid-2009:
http://blog.oskarsson.nu/2009/06/nosql-debrief.html

CouchDB info:
http://couchdb.apache.org/

MongoDB info:
http://www.mongodb.org/display/DOCS/Home

Interesting comments reacting to (and rejecting) the NoSQL movement:
http://www.eflorenzano.com/blog/post/my-thoughts-nosql
http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/50678-the-nosql-discussion-has-nothing-to-do-with-sql/fulltext
http://codemonkeyism.com/dark-side-nosql/
http://bjclark.me/2009/08/04/nosql-if-only-it-was-that-easy/

_________________________
Hope this helps!

[barney]

Between 40hz's document link - the cleanest/clearest to date - and zridling's series of links - particularly the eflorenzano.com blog - I've pretty well been convinced that NoSQL, while interesting and something I'll play with as time permits, is definitely not in line with the coming project.

Back in mid-80s I wrote a checkbook program in DOS batch mode - a never-ending batch file - actually the Tandy version of DOS for the CoCo.  Data was stored in a CSV file, and the only hard part was creating the edit/delete part of the code.  I don't see much difference 'tween that and the NoSQL stuff.  NoSQL's more sophisticated, yeah, but much the same, nevertheless.

Much thanks to the both of ya ... saved me many hours & prolly a lot of eye strain <chortle />.

[zridling]

Glad we helped.