Oracle vs. PostgreSQL

SearchOracle.com has just published an article about the different opinions of a few DBAs regarding the merits of the open source PostgreSQL database management system (DBMS) as compared to Oracle. Here is the summary of the different opinions and comments:

• PostgreSQL 8.0 is much more than just a back end for Web sites.
• PostgreSQL can be used instead of or as a complement to Oracle and other DBMSs.
• Oracle’s rich feature set is second to none.
• PostgreSQL is much more suitable for the casual database developer.
• PostgreSQL has a solid set of features that includes most, if not all, of what developers would ever use.
• Oracle has a feature set several orders of magnitude more rich, but few if any of these features would ever be used by developers.
• In PostgreSQL, you can recompile a stored procedure on a live system, and only transactions starting after that compilation will see the changes. Transactions in process can complete with the old version. Oracle just blocks on the busy procedure.
• PostgreSQL stored procedure parameters are not typed. Everything is passed as strings.
• It makes more sense to compare PostgreSQL to OracleXE, a slimmed down and free version of the Oracle DBMS.
• PostgreSQL is easy to use and complies with the SQL standard nicely.
• PostgreSQL doesn’t behave as nicely as Oracle when the system fills up. In those instances, the system tends to crash quickly.
• Setting up a TCP/IP connection capability with PostgreSQL is hardly an intuitive process.
• Oracle and PostgreSQL don’t talk to each other except by externally built and most times highly customized connectors.

My opinion is that Oracle is the king, the leader in DBMS and is the logical choice when selecting a database to store and secure your important data – If you can afford it. If you cannot afford Oracle then there are many alternatives, including the free Oracle XE, PostgreSQL, MySQL…

Updated a few hours later: Heated discussion on Slashdot.