MyBATIS VS Ebean ORM

• 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

• 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.

• Simplified ORM
  Ebean ORM simplifies database interactions with an easy-to-use API, which abstracts away much of the complexity involved in handling SQL directly. This allows developers to focus more on business logic rather than database connectivity and queries.
• Automatic Query Generation
  Ebean automatically generates queries based on the defined entity models, reducing the need for manually crafting complex SQL queries. This feature can save development time and reduce the potential for query-related errors.
• Lazy Loading Support
  Ebean supports lazy loading, which allows for the efficient retrieval of data by only loading related entities when they are accessed. This can help improve application performance by reducing initial data loading times.
• Integration with Play Framework
  Ebean integrates seamlessly with the Play Framework, which is advantageous if you are developing applications using this framework, providing a cohesive development experience and reducing setup complexity.
• Full-text Search
  Ebean provides built-in support for full-text search, enabling applications to perform search operations without relying on external search services, thus offering more versatility in how data can be queried and manipulated.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Ecosystem
  Compared to more established ORMs like Hibernate, Ebean has a smaller community and ecosystem, which may result in less third-party support, fewer tutorials, and less available expertise, potentially increasing the learning curve for new developers.
• Documentation
  While Ebean offers documentation, some users might find it lacking in depth compared to larger projects, which can make troubleshooting and advanced use cases more challenging to navigate without external help or experimentation.
• Resource Intensive
  Ebean can be resource-intensive in terms of memory and processing, especially in cases of complex data models or when dealing with extremely large datasets, which might impact application performance and scalability.
• Lack of Advanced Features
  For highly specialized and advanced ORM tasks, Ebean might lack some of the features offered by more mature ORMs like Hibernate, which could necessitate additional work or integration with other tools for complex requirements.

Screencast #18: Introduction to mybatis

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  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...

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• 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: over 4 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: about 5 years ago

• How do you guys go about the persistence layer?

  You can have a look at https://ebean.io/ ... Better control over the generated SQL, multiple levels of abstraction, can generate DB migrations and run the DB migrations, transparent encryption support, SQL 2011 history support, test... Source: over 4 years ago

• What do you whish for Spring 6?

  There is https://ebean.io/ and looks like it a community driven alternative to jOOQ. Source: about 5 years ago

• Do you use code generators in your IDEs or some external ones? If so, which ones?

  Ebean ORM https://ebean.io/ was built to somewhat rival JPA (and JDBI) Btw: you can use java 16 records with ebean as DTOs, EmbeddedId and also as read only entity beans (and JPA implementations could similarly do so). Source: about 5 years ago

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