CockroachDB vs Scylla: What are the differences?
# Introduction
CockroachDB and Scylla are two popular database management systems, each with unique features and characteristics. Understanding the key differences between these two platforms is crucial for choosing the right solution for your specific needs.
1. **Data Model**: CockroachDB utilizes a relational data model, offering SQL support and facilitating consistency across the system. In contrast, Scylla follows a NoSQL data model, specifically based on Apache Cassandra, making it suitable for large-scale distributed systems that require high availability.
2. **Consistency Levels**: CockroachDB provides strong consistency by default, ensuring that reads always return the most up-to-date information. On the other hand, Scylla allows developers to choose between different levels of consistency, like eventual or strong, based on the specific requirements of their applications.
3. **Partitioning Strategy**: CockroachDB uses automatic sharding called "Range Partitioning," which divides data into ranges for better scalability and distribution across nodes. In contrast, Scylla relies on "Virtual Node Partitioning" to evenly distribute data across the cluster, enhancing fault tolerance and performance.
4. **Concurrency Control**: CockroachDB employs a distributed MVCC (Multi-Version Concurrency Control) mechanism to manage concurrent read and write operations efficiently. Meanwhile, Scylla's lightweight transactions enable high-throughput operations and low-latency responses in a distributed environment.
5. **Deployment Model**: While CockroachDB supports multi-cloud deployment and simplified orchestration tools, Scylla focuses on bare-metal performance and hardware optimization, making it an ideal choice for organizations seeking maximum efficiency and performance.
6. **Query Language Support**: CockroachDB provides full SQL support, allowing seamless integration with existing applications and tools. In contrast, Scylla supports CQL (Cassandra Query Language), a SQL-like language tailored for NoSQL databases like Apache Cassandra, offering flexibility and familiarity for developers.
# In Summary, CockroachDB and Scylla differ in their data model, consistency levels, partitioning strategy, concurrency control, deployment model, and query language support, catering to distinct use cases and requirements based on specific business needs.