Overview

PostgreSQL

Stacks103.0K

Followers83.9K

Votes3.6K

GitHub Stars19.0K

Forks5.2K

IBM Informix

Stacks17

Followers26

Votes0

IBM Informix vs PostgreSQL: What are the differences?

Introduction

IBM Informix and PostgreSQL are two popular relational database management systems with their own unique features and capabilities. In this markdown, we will highlight the key differences between IBM Informix and PostgreSQL.

Data Types: One of the significant differences between IBM Informix and PostgreSQL is the set of data types they offer. Informix provides a wide range of built-in data types, including distinct types such as money and interval, while PostgreSQL supports a larger variety of datatypes, including arrays, JSON, and geometric types.
Concurrency Control: IBM Informix and PostgreSQL use different concurrency control mechanisms. Informix utilizes a row-level locking model, allowing multiple transactions to read and write different rows concurrently. On the other hand, PostgreSQL employs a multiversion concurrency control (MVCC) mechanism, which allows multiple transactions to read and write the same rows concurrently without blocking each other.
Replication: Replication is another area where the two databases differ significantly. IBM Informix supports high availability using its own native replication technology called High Availability Data Replication (HDR). This allows multiple Informix servers to replicate data in near real-time and provide fault tolerance. In contrast, PostgreSQL supports various replication methods, including both asynchronous and synchronous replication, streaming replication, and logical replication.
Procedural Language Support: PostgreSQL enables users to define their own procedural languages, allowing them to extend the database's functionality. It has support for various languages like PL/pgSQL, PL/Perl, PL/Python, and more. IBM Informix, on the other hand, does not provide extensive support for procedural languages and relies primarily on its built-in SQL functionalities.
Query Optimization: IBM Informix is known for its advanced query optimization capabilities. It provides features like Optimize for Query, which allows the database to choose the most efficient query execution plan based on available statistics. PostgreSQL also has a sophisticated query planner, but it may not have the same level of optimization capabilities as Informix.
Tool Ecosystem: The tool ecosystem surrounding IBM Informix and PostgreSQL differs in terms of availability and maturity. PostgreSQL has a thriving open-source community and a wide range of third-party tools and extensions. It also benefits from the integration with other open-source projects like pgAdmin and PostGIS. On the other hand, IBM Informix has a more limited selection of tools, with some proprietary tools provided by IBM.

In summary, IBM Informix and PostgreSQL have key differences in terms of data types, concurrency control mechanisms, replication options, procedural language support, query optimization capabilities, and tool ecosystem.

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Advice on PostgreSQL, IBM Informix

Kyle

Web Application Developer at Redacted DevWorks

Dec 3, 2019

Decidedon

PostGIS

While there's been some very clever techniques that has allowed non-natively supported geo querying to be performed, it is incredibly slow in the long game and error prone at best.

MySQL finally introduced it's own GEO functions and special indexing operations for GIS type data. I prototyped with this, as MySQL is the most familiar database to me. But no matter what I did with it, how much tuning i'd give it, how much I played with it, the results would come back inconsistent.

It was very disappointing.

I figured, at this point, that SQL Server, being an enterprise solution authored by one of the biggest worldwide software developers in the world, Microsoft, might contain some decent GIS in it.

I was very disappointed.

Postgres is a Database solution i'm still getting familiar with, but I noticed it had no built in support for GIS. So I hilariously didn't pay it too much attention. That was until I stumbled upon PostGIS and my world changed forever.

449k views449k

Comments

George

Student

Mar 18, 2020

Needs adviceon

PostgreSQL

Python

Django

Hello everyone,

Well, I want to build a large-scale project, but I do not know which ORDBMS to choose. The app should handle real-time operations, not chatting, but things like future scheduling or reminders. It should be also really secure, fast and easy to use. And last but not least, should I use them both. I mean PostgreSQL with Python / Django and MongoDB with Node.js? Or would it be better to use PostgreSQL with Node.js?

*The project is going to use React for the front-end and GraphQL is going to be used for the API.

Thank you all. Any answer or advice would be really helpful!

620k views620k

Comments

Navraj

CEO at SuPragma

Apr 16, 2020

Needs adviceon

MySQL

PostgreSQL

I asked my last question incorrectly. Rephrasing it here.

I am looking for the most secure open source database for my project I'm starting: https://github.com/SuPragma/SuPragma/wiki

Which database is more secure? MySQL or PostgreSQL? Are there others I should be considering? Is it possible to change the encryption keys dynamically?

Thanks,

Raj

401k views401k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

PostgreSQL	IBM Informix
PostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system that supports an extended subset of the SQL standard, including transactions, foreign keys, subqueries, triggers, user-defined types and functions.	It is a fast and flexible database with the ability to seamlessly integrate SQL, NoSQL/JSON, and time series and spatial data. Its versatility and ease of use make Informix a preferred solution for a wide range of environments, from enterprise data warehouses to individual application development.
-	Real-time analytics; Fast, always-on transactions; Fewer data management hassles; Simple and non-disruptive
Statistics
GitHub Stars 19.0K	GitHub Stars -
GitHub Forks 5.2K	GitHub Forks -
Stacks 103.0K	Stacks 17
Followers 83.9K	Followers 26
Votes 3.6K	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 765 Relational database 511 High availability 439 Enterprise class database 383 Sql 304 Sql + nosql Cons 10 Table/index bloatings	No community feedback yet
Integrations
No integrations available	Linux macOS Windows

What are some alternatives to PostgreSQL, IBM Informix?

MongoDB

MongoDB stores data in JSON-like documents that can vary in structure, offering a dynamic, flexible schema. MongoDB was also designed for high availability and scalability, with built-in replication and auto-sharding.

MySQL

The MySQL software delivers a very fast, multi-threaded, multi-user, and robust SQL (Structured Query Language) database server. MySQL Server is intended for mission-critical, heavy-load production systems as well as for embedding into mass-deployed software.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft® SQL Server is a database management and analysis system for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.

SQLite

SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine. Unlike most other SQL databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads and writes directly to ordinary disk files. A complete SQL database with multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views, is contained in a single disk file.

Cassandra

Partitioning means that Cassandra can distribute your data across multiple machines in an application-transparent matter. Cassandra will automatically repartition as machines are added and removed from the cluster. Row store means that like relational databases, Cassandra organizes data by rows and columns. The Cassandra Query Language (CQL) is a close relative of SQL.

Memcached

Memcached is an in-memory key-value store for small chunks of arbitrary data (strings, objects) from results of database calls, API calls, or page rendering.

MariaDB

Started by core members of the original MySQL team, MariaDB actively works with outside developers to deliver the most featureful, stable, and sanely licensed open SQL server in the industry. MariaDB is designed as a drop-in replacement of MySQL(R) with more features, new storage engines, fewer bugs, and better performance.

RethinkDB

RethinkDB is built to store JSON documents, and scale to multiple machines with very little effort. It has a pleasant query language that supports really useful queries like table joins and group by, and is easy to setup and learn.

ArangoDB

A distributed free and open-source database with a flexible data model for documents, graphs, and key-values. Build high performance applications using a convenient SQL-like query language or JavaScript extensions.

InfluxDB

InfluxDB is a scalable datastore for metrics, events, and real-time analytics. It has a built-in HTTP API so you don't have to write any server side code to get up and running. InfluxDB is designed to be scalable, simple to install and manage, and fast to get data in and out.