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Datomic VS Oracle TimesTen

Compare Datomic VS Oracle TimesTen and see what are their differences

Datomic logo Datomic

The fully transactional, cloud-ready, distributed database

Oracle TimesTen logo Oracle TimesTen

TimesTen is an in-memory, relational database management system with persistence and...
  • Datomic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • Oracle TimesTen Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-17

Datomic features and specs

  • Immutability
    Datomic employs an append-only data model where data is never overwritten but instead appended, ensuring historical data is always available and providing strong consistency.
  • Time Travel Queries
    Datomic allows you to query the database as of any point in time, facilitating auditing and debugging by allowing easy access to historical data states.
  • Rich Data Model
    Supports complex data types like maps and sets directly within its schema, providing a flexible way to represent data.
  • ACID Transactions
    Datomic supports fully ACID-compliant transactions, ensuring reliable and predictable database operations.
  • Scalability
    Separates storage and compute, allowing for horizontal scaling of read operations, making it suitable for handling large datasets.
  • Query Flexibility
    Offers a powerful query language that supports recursive queries, making it suitable for complex data retrieval needs.

Possible disadvantages of Datomic

  • Complexity
    The architecture of Datomic can be complex to understand and implement, particularly for teams unfamiliar with its design principles.
  • Cost
    Can be expensive to operate, especially in a cloud environment, where costs increase with the amount of data stored and the compute resources required.
  • Limited Write Throughput
    Due to its append-only design, Datomic can have limited write throughput, which may not be suitable for applications with heavy write requirements.
  • Closed Source
    Datomic is a proprietary database system, which may not appeal to organizations that prefer open-source solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    Requires a learning curve as its conceptual model and query language are different from traditional databases, potentially requiring additional training.
  • Dependency on AWS
    Relying on AWS ecosystem for the storage backend can limit choices for deployment environments, impacting flexibility.

Oracle TimesTen features and specs

  • High Performance
    Oracle TimesTen is an in-memory database providing extremely fast data access and transaction processing, which is beneficial for applications that require real-time performance.
  • Low Latency
    Since the database is stored in memory, data retrieval and manipulation are very quick, reducing latency significantly compared to disk-based databases.
  • Scalability
    TimesTen can be easily scaled to handle large volumes of data and transaction loads, supporting hybrid configurations with Oracle Database to extend scalability and reliability.
  • SQL Compatibility
    It supports SQL and PL/SQL, making it easier for developers experienced with Oracle databases to use TimesTen without a steep learning curve.
  • High Availability
    TimesTen offers features like replication and failover for high availability which is crucial for mission-critical applications.
  • Integration with Oracle Ecosystem
    TimesTen integrates well with other tools and products in the Oracle ecosystem, allowing for seamless operations across different Oracle platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Oracle TimesTen

  • Cost
    Oracle TimesTen can be expensive compared to some of its open-source alternatives, making it less attractive for smaller businesses or projects with limited budgets.
  • Hardware Dependency
    Being an in-memory database, it requires machines with large RAM capacities to store substantial datasets, which can be a limiting factor.
  • Complexity
    Setting up and managing TimesTen can be complex, especially when trying to optimize for performance and ensure data consistency across systems.
  • Limited Community Support
    Unlike more popular database systems, the community support for TimesTen is limited, which means troubleshooting and problem-solving might not be as straightforward.
  • Data Volatility
    Since TimesTen stores data in memory, there’s a risk of data loss in the event of power failures, despite having persistence features to mitigate this risk.

Datomic videos

KotlinConf 2018 - Datomic: The Most Innovative DB You've Never Heard Of by August Lilleaas

More videos:

  • Review - "Real-World Datomic: An Experience Report" by Craig Andera (2013)
  • Review - Rich Hickey on Datomic Ions, September 12, 2018

Oracle TimesTen videos

My demo of Oracle TimesTen in memory DB with Free Developer Day tools with a VirtualBox VM appliance

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Datomic and Oracle TimesTen)
Databases
55 55%
45% 45
Relational Databases
53 53%
47% 47
Network & Admin
55 55%
45% 45
NoSQL Databases
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Datomic and Oracle TimesTen, you can also consider the following products

MySQL - The world's most popular open source database

Valentina Server - Valentina Server is 3 in 1: Valentina DB Server / SQLite Server / Report Server

MongoDB - MongoDB (from "humongous") is a scalable, high-performance NoSQL database.

Datahike - A durable datalog database adaptable for distribution.

Matisse - Matisse is a post-relational SQL database.

MarkLogic Server - MarkLogic Server is a multi-model database that has both NoSQL and trusted enterprise data management capabilities.