Flyway vs MyBatis: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will discuss the key differences between Flyway and MyBatis. Both Flyway and MyBatis are popular tools used in web development, but they have distinct features and purposes. This Markdown code provides a formatted presentation of these differences.

1. Migration Process: Flyway is primarily used for database migration, automating the process of managing and applying changes to a database schema. It tracks and applies incremental changes to the database, making it easy to version and manage the database structure. On the other hand, MyBatis is an object-relational mapping (ORM) framework used for simplifying database access in Java applications. It focuses on mapping SQL queries to Java objects, providing a more intuitive way to interact with the database.

2. Language: In terms of the language used, Flyway uses SQL as its primary language. It supports standard SQL, making it compatible with various database management systems (DBMS). MyBatis, on the other hand, uses XML or annotations-based configuration to define SQL mapping and queries in Java applications. It provides flexibility and allows developers to choose between XML or annotations based on their preference.

3. Data Persistence: Flyway primarily focuses on database schema migration. It helps manage the evolution of the database structure over time. It does not provide built-in support for data persistence or querying. On the other hand, MyBatis focuses on data persistence by providing an ORM framework. It simplifies the mapping of Java objects to the database, allowing developers to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations efficiently.

4. Automation and Versioning: Flyway provides automation and versioning features for database migration. It automatically applies incremental changes to the database schema, making it easy to track and manage versions. It ensures that all changes are applied in a specific order, maintaining consistency. MyBatis, on the other hand, does not provide built-in automation or versioning for database migration. Developers need to manually manage the SQL queries and their execution.

5. Configuration: Flyway offers a simple and straightforward configuration process. It requires minimal configuration to set up and start using. The configuration mainly involves specifying the database connection details and migration scripts location. MyBatis, on the other hand, provides more extensive configuration options. It allows developers to configure database settings, SQL mapping, caching, and other advanced features to optimize performance and customize behavior.

6. Integration: Flyway can be easily integrated with various build tools and frameworks, making it suitable for different project setups. It provides seamless integration with popular frameworks like Spring, allowing automated database migration during application startup. MyBatis also offers easy integration with different frameworks and tools, such as Spring, to simplify database access and enhance application development.

In summary, Flyway is mainly focused on automating and managing database schema migration, whereas MyBatis is primarily used for simplifying data persistence and accessing databases using Java objects. Flyway uses SQL as its primary language, while MyBatis uses XML or annotations. Flyway provides automation and versioning features, simple configuration, and easy integration, while MyBatis offers a more extensive configuration and ORM functionality.