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MySQL VS Firebird

Compare MySQL VS Firebird and see what are their differences

MySQL logo MySQL

The world's most popular open source database

Firebird logo Firebird

Relational database offering many ANSI SQL standard features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platform
  • MySQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-17
  • Firebird Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

MySQL features and specs

  • Reliability
    MySQL is known for its reliability and durability, making it a solid choice for many businesses' database management needs.
  • Performance
    It offers robust performance, handling large databases and complex queries efficiently.
  • Open Source
    MySQL is an open-source database, making it freely available under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
  • Scalability
    MySQL supports large-scale applications and can handle high volumes of transactions.
  • Community Support
    There is a large, active MySQL community that offers extensive resources, documentation, and support.
  • Cross-Platform
    MySQL is compatible with various operating systems like Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  • Integrations
    MySQL integrates well with numerous development frameworks, including LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl).
  • Security
    MySQL offers various security features, such as user account management, password policies, and encrypted connections.
  • Cost
    The open-source nature of MySQL means that it can be very cost-effective, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.

Possible disadvantages of MySQL

  • Support
    While community support is plentiful, official support from Oracle can be quite expensive.
  • Complexity
    More advanced features and configurations can be complex and may require a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Scalability Limitations
    While MySQL is scalable, very high-scale applications may run into limitations compared to some newer database technologies.
  • Plug-in Storage Engines
    The use of plug-in storage engines like InnoDB or MyISAM can cause inconsistencies and complicate backups and recovery processes.
  • ACID Compliance
    Although MySQL supports ACID compliance, certain configurations or storage engines may not fully adhere to ACID properties, affecting transaction reliability.
  • Concurrent Writes
    Handling a high number of concurrent writes can be less efficient compared to some other database systems designed specifically for high concurrency.
  • Feature Set
    Some advanced features found in other SQL databases (e.g., full-text indexing, rich analytics) may be less robust or absent.
  • Vendor Dependency
    With Oracle now owning MySQL, there can be concerns about licensing changes or other forms of vendor lock-in.
  • Replication Complexities
    Setting up replication and ensuring data consistency across distributed systems can be complex and error-prone.

Firebird features and specs

  • Open Source
    Firebird is an open-source database management system, which means it is free to use, often leading to lower total cost of ownership compared to proprietary solutions.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Firebird runs on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and MacOS, making it a versatile choice for various development environments.
  • Low Resource Consumption
    Firebird is known for its low resource requirements, making it highly efficient and suitable for both small and large-scale applications.
  • Advanced SQL Support
    Firebird supports a broad range of SQL standards and advanced features, including stored procedures, triggers, and full ACID-compliant transactions.
  • User Security
    Firebird offers robust user authentication and security features to manage database access and ensure data integrity.

Possible disadvantages of Firebird

  • Relative Popularity
    Firebird is less popular compared to other database systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL, which can result in a smaller community and fewer third-party tools or extensions.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is official documentation available, some users may find it less comprehensive compared to the documentation of more popular databases.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Firebird might encounter a steep learning curve, especially if they are used to working with other database management systems.
  • Limited Cloud Integration
    Firebird does not have the same level of support and optimization for cloud services as some other databases, potentially complicating cloud deployment.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community, the support response time might not be as fast or as comprehensive as databases with larger user bases.

Analysis of MySQL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, MySQL is generally considered to be a good choice for many applications, especially those requiring a relational database management system. Its performance, ease of integration, and support for various storage engines make it a versatile option.

Why this product is good

  • MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system known for its reliability, ease of use, and strong community support. It has a proven track record and is widely used for web applications, data warehousing, and logging applications. Additionally, MySQL offers robust security features, scalability, and cross-platform support.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized web applications
  • LAMP stack environments
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Logging and data warehousing applications
  • Projects requiring a mature, well-supported RDBMS

Analysis of Firebird

Overall verdict

  • Firebird is considered a reliable and efficient database system, particularly well-suited for applications requiring high performance and minimal maintenance. It is valued for its lightweight nature and being cost-effective, as it does not require expensive licensing fees.

Why this product is good

  • Firebird is an open-source SQL relational database management system known for its powerful performance, scalability, and versatility. It supports different platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. Furthermore, it offers features like full ACID compliance, multi-generational architecture, and support for stored procedures and triggers, making it suitable for a variety of applications.

Recommended for

    Firebird is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, developers looking for a robust, open-source RDBMS solution, and projects where cost-effectiveness and cross-platform compatibility are essential. It is also a good choice for those needing a database solution with a strong track record in handling concurrent users and complex queries.

MySQL videos

MySQL IN 10 MINUTES (2020) | Introduction to Databases, SQL, & MySQL

More videos:

  • Review - A Review of MySQL Open Source Software

Firebird videos

The Best Budget Drag Car Ever! Pontiac Firebird TransAm Review!

More videos:

  • Review - 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am | Retro Review
  • Review - Firebird Review Six Flags America Former Apocalypse Roller Coaster

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MySQL and Firebird)
Databases
82 82%
18% 18
Relational Databases
91 91%
9% 9
NoSQL Databases
74 74%
26% 26
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

MySQL Reviews

MariaDB Vs MySQL In 2019: Compatibility, Performance, And Syntax
MySQL: MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS). Just like all other relational databases, MySQL uses tables, constraints, triggers, roles, stored procedures and views as the core components that you work with. A table consists of rows, and each row contains a same set of columns. MySQL uses primary keys to uniquely identify each row (a.k.a...
Source: blog.panoply.io
20+ MongoDB Alternatives You Should Know About
MySQL® is another feasible replacement. MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8 have great support for JSON, and it continues to get better with every maintenance release. You can also consider MySQL Cluster for medium size sharded environments. You can also consider MariaDB and Percona Server for MySQL
Source: www.percona.com

Firebird Reviews

Top 10 free database tools for sys admins 2019 Update
DBeaver is an open source universal database tool for developers and database administrators that has a low memory footprint. It supports JDBC compliant databases such as MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Firebird, SQLite, and Sybase. Its main features include the ability to browse and edit databases, create and execute SQL scripts, export data, transaction...

Social recommendations and mentions

MySQL might be a bit more popular than Firebird. We know about 4 links to it since March 2021 and only 3 links to Firebird. 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.

MySQL mentions (4)

  • I have a recurring issue with a MySQL DB where I continually run out of disk space due to logs being filled. I've tried everything I can think of. Can anyone think of anything else I should try?
    So, I did a quick read through the mysql reference and found a bunch of flush related commands. I tried:. Source: about 2 years ago
  • MMORPG design resources
    MySQL: Any SQL or DB knock-off, really... mysql.com - mariadb.org - sqlite.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Probably a syntax error
    15 years and five strokes ago. I was a Unix sysadmin. ALthough I was never an actual programmer, I did maintenance/light enhancement for the organization's website, in php. Now, as self-administered cognative therapy, I'm going back to it. This is an evil HR application that uses the mysql.com employees sample database. The module below enables the evil HR end user to generate a list of the oldest workers so... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • An absolute nightmare with mysql 8.0.25
    I always use the packages from mysql.com, that way I don't have to deal with strange configuration stuff along those lines, but anyway, I'm afraid I'm out of ideas. Surely someone else would have run in to the same issue here though. Source: almost 4 years ago

Firebird mentions (3)

  • GitHub - neondatabase/neon: The serverless open source alternative to AWS Aurora Postgres - Written in Rust
    Y'know, this situation is why Firefox bounced off the names Phoenix and Firebird before settling. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Leaving MySQL
    Another big open source DB I'd like to hear about more often is Firebird (https://firebirdsql.org/) which was forked from the Interbase code released by Borland (don't remember how they were called at the time). Four choices of connection model (process-by-connection, thread-by-connection, some weird mix, and in-process), full ANSI SQL, runs on all major platforms, and uses single file databases. Seems to be the... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Any RBDMS that supports in-memory and multi-threaded writes?
    For C/C++ Firebird could be an option, although that isn't really "in memory" as it persists all data to disk. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MySQL and Firebird, you can also consider the following products

PostgreSQL - PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system.

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

Microsoft SQL - Microsoft SQL is a best in class relational database management software that facilitates the database server to provide you a primary function to store and retrieve data.

Microsoft SQL Server - Microsoft Azure is an open, flexible, enterprise-grade cloud computing platform. Move faster, do more, and save money with IaaS + PaaS. Try for FREE.

CouchBase - Document-Oriented NoSQL Database

SQLite - SQLite Home Page