Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MyBATIS VS DBFlow

Compare MyBATIS VS DBFlow and see what are their differences

MyBATIS logo MyBATIS

MyBatis is a top-rated SQL-based data mapping solution used by Programmers, Software Engineers, and Database Architects for developing object-oriented software applications.

DBFlow logo DBFlow

DBFlow is a super-fast, feature-rich, and easy-to-use ORM Android database library that automatically writes database-related code.
  • MyBATIS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18
Not present

MyBATIS features and specs

  • Simplicity
    MyBatis is easier to use compared to other ORM tools because it provides a simple and direct approach to database interaction using XML or annotations, making it accessible for developers familiar with SQL.
  • Flexibility in SQL
    It allows for complete control over SQL queries, enabling developers to write complex queries and use full SQL syntax without constraints, unlike automated ORM solutions.
  • Performance
    Since developers have direct control over SQL statements, the performance can be optimized for specific use cases, potentially reducing the overhead that automated ORM solutions might introduce.
  • Mapping
    Offers robust and customizable mapping capabilities between database tables and Java classes, helping in clearly defining how data should be transformed between the system and the data layer.
  • Lazy Loading
    Supports lazy loading of related objects, which can improve performance by delaying the fetching of data until it is specifically needed.

Possible disadvantages of MyBATIS

  • Manual SQL Management
    The need to manually write and maintain SQL can be cumbersome and error-prone, especially for complex applications with large numbers of queries.
  • Lack of Automated Associations
    MyBatis does not inherently manage relationships between entities like some other ORM tools, which requires developers to handle association mappings themselves.
  • Limited Abstraction
    Compared to full ORM frameworks, MyBatis offers less abstraction over the database layer, which means developers must handle more of the database logic manually.
  • Learning Curve for XML
    While not steep, there is a learning curve involved in configuring MyBatis using XML for those who are more accustomed to purely annotation-driven configuration or other ORM tools.
  • Reduced Portability
    Because SQL is database-specific, MyBatis applications might become less portable across different database platforms when relying extensively on custom SQL.

DBFlow features and specs

  • ORM Capabilities
    DBFlow provides full-featured ORM capabilities, allowing developers to easily manage database operations using Java or Kotlin objects, which simplifies database interactions.
  • Complex Query Support
    The library supports complex database queries, including joins and transactions, enabling developers to perform intricate data retrieval and manipulation tasks.
  • Migration Support
    DBFlow offers support for database migrations, making it easier to upgrade database schema without losing existing data, which is crucial for app version updates.
  • Active Community
    DBFlow has an active community and comprehensive documentation, allowing users to quickly find solutions to common problems and stay updated with the latest features.
  • Annotation-Based Configuration
    The library uses annotations to simplify configuration and reduce the amount of boilerplate code needed for database setup and maintenance.

Possible disadvantages of DBFlow

  • Learning Curve
    For developers new to ORMs or coming from simpler database solutions, DBFlow’s extensive feature set and configuration options may present a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Overhead
    As with many ORMs, DBFlow may introduce some performance overhead compared to direct SQLite queries, which can be a concern for performance-critical applications.
  • Project Maintenance
    With ORM libraries, including DBFlow, there is always the risk of reduced maintenance or updates, which can be problematic if the project does not receive regular support and improvements.
  • Limited Control Over SQL
    While DBFlow supports complex queries, developers may find the abstraction limits their control over raw SQL, which can be necessary for highly optimized queries.
  • Dependency Management
    Integrating DBFlow involves adding additional dependencies to your project, which can complicate dependency management and increase the size of the final application binary.

MyBATIS videos

Screencast #18: Introduction to mybatis

More videos:

  • Demo - MyBatis Intro & Demo

DBFlow videos

About DBFlow And Setup Database | DBFlow CRUD Operations Tutorial Part 1 in telugu

More videos:

  • Review - Infinum Android Talks #09 - UI optimizations, Android Wear UI, DBFlow ORM and more

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MyBATIS and DBFlow)
Web Frameworks
57 57%
43% 43
Development
56 56%
44% 44
Tool
76 76%
24% 24
Application And Data
38 38%
62% 62

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MyBATIS and DBFlow

MyBATIS Reviews

17 Popular Java Frameworks for 2023: Pros, cons, and more
MyBatis is somewhat similar to the Hibernate framework, as both facilitate communication between the application layer and the database. However, MyBatis doesn’t map Java objects to database tables like Hibernate does — instead, it links Java methods to SQL statements. As a result, SQL is visible when you’re working with the MyBatis framework, and you still have control over...
Source: raygun.com

DBFlow Reviews

We have no reviews of DBFlow yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MyBATIS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

MyBATIS mentions (2)

  • How do you guys go about the persistence layer?
    Other tools you can look at for the data layer are MyBatis (https://mybatis.org/mybatis-3/) and JOOQ (https://www.jooq.org) they put you a little closer to the database than JPA/Hibernate. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Do most established companies use ORMs?
    While its not as well known, have you ever glanced at mybatis? https://mybatis.org/mybatis-3/. Source: over 3 years ago

DBFlow mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DBFlow yet. Tracking of DBFlow recommendations started around Jul 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MyBATIS and DBFlow, you can also consider the following products

Hibernate - Hibernate an open source Java persistence framework project.

Entity Framework - See Comparison of Entity Framework vs NHibernate.

Mikro orm - TypeScript ORM for Node.js based on Data Mapper, Unit of Work and Identity Map patterns.

Dapper - Dapper is a user-friendly object mapper for the .NET framework.

Beego - Beego Web is official blog and documentation website for beego app web framework

Sequelize - Provides access to a MySQL database by mapping database entries to objects and vice-versa.