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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Databases
  4. Database Tools
  5. PostGIS vs pgRouting

PostGIS vs pgRouting

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

PostGIS
PostGIS
Stacks379
Followers377
Votes30
GitHub Stars2.0K
Forks407
pgRouting
pgRouting
Stacks10
Followers24
Votes8

PostGIS vs pgRouting: What are the differences?

Introduction

PostGIS and pgRouting are two popular extensions for PostgreSQL that are widely used in GIS applications to provide geospatial functionality. While both extensions enhance PostgreSQL for geospatial applications, there are key differences between them that users should be aware of.

  1. Data Handling: PostGIS is focused on providing geospatial data types and functions, allowing users to store, analyze, and manipulate spatial data within the database. On the other hand, pgRouting is specifically designed for routing and network analysis, providing tools to calculate the shortest path between two points on a network.

  2. Functionality: PostGIS offers a wide range of geospatial functions for geometric operations, spatial queries, and data transformation. In contrast, pgRouting specializes in routing algorithms such as Dijkstra, A*, and other network analysis tools tailored for solving routing problems.

  3. Use Case: PostGIS is more suited for general geospatial applications where storing and analyzing spatial data is the primary focus. Meanwhile, pgRouting is ideal for applications that require network analysis and routing functionality, such as logistics, transportation, and urban planning scenarios.

  4. Performance: Due to its specialization in routing algorithms, pgRouting may outperform PostGIS in routing-related tasks where efficiency is a critical factor. PostGIS, on the other hand, provides a broader range of functionality beyond routing, which may impact performance in certain use cases.

  5. Integration: PostGIS can be seamlessly integrated with various GIS software and tools due to its comprehensive support for geospatial standards and formats. In contrast, pgRouting is more tightly integrated with PostgreSQL and may require additional configurations for interoperability with external GIS systems.

  6. Community and Support: PostGIS has a large and active community of users and developers, providing extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums. While pgRouting also has a dedicated user base, its community may not be as extensive as PostGIS, resulting in potentially limited resources for assistance.

In Summary, PostGIS and pgRouting offer distinct functionalities and use cases within the realm of geospatial databases, catering to different aspects of geospatial data storage, analysis, and routing applications.

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Detailed Comparison

PostGIS
PostGIS
pgRouting
pgRouting

PostGIS is a spatial database extender for PostgreSQL object-relational database. It adds support for geographic objects allowing location queries to be run in SQL.

It is an extension of PostGIS and PostgreSQL geospatial database and adds routing and other network analysis functionality.

Processing and analytic functions for both vector and raster data for splicing, dicing, morphing, reclassifying, and collecting/unioning with the power of SQL;raster map algebra for fine-grained raster processing;Spatial reprojection SQL callable functions for both vector and raster data;Support for importing / exporting ESRI shapefile vector data via both commandline and GUI packaged tools and support for more formats via other 3rd-party Open Source tools
All Pairs Shortest Path, Johnson’s Algorithm; All Pairs Shortest Path, Floyd-Warshall Algorithm; Shortest Path A*; Bi-directional Dijkstra Shortest Path; Bi-directional A* Shortest Path; Shortest Path Dijkstra; Driving Distance; K-Shortest Path, Multiple Alternative Paths; K-Dijkstra, One to Many Shortest Path; Traveling Sales Person; Turn Restriction Shortest Path (TRSP)
Statistics
GitHub Stars
2.0K
GitHub Stars
-
GitHub Forks
407
GitHub Forks
-
Stacks
379
Stacks
10
Followers
377
Followers
24
Votes
30
Votes
8
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 25
    De facto GIS in SQL
  • 5
    Good Documentation
Pros
  • 3
    Dynamic routing
  • 1
    QGIS plugin
  • 1
    Geospatial network analysis
  • 1
    Data changes are reflected instantaneously
  • 1
    Routing in the database
Integrations
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL

What are some alternatives to PostGIS, pgRouting?

dbForge Studio for MySQL

dbForge Studio for MySQL

It is the universal MySQL and MariaDB client for database management, administration and development. With the help of this intelligent MySQL client the work with data and code has become easier and more convenient. This tool provides utilities to compare, synchronize, and backup MySQL databases with scheduling, and gives possibility to analyze and report MySQL tables data.

dbForge Studio for Oracle

dbForge Studio for Oracle

It is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) which helps Oracle SQL developers to increase PL/SQL coding speed, provides versatile data editing tools for managing in-database and external data.

dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL

dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL

It is a GUI tool for database development and management. The IDE for PostgreSQL allows users to create, develop, and execute queries, edit and adjust the code to their requirements in a convenient and user-friendly interface.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

It is a powerful IDE for SQL Server management, administration, development, data reporting and analysis. The tool will help SQL developers to manage databases, version-control database changes in popular source control systems, speed up routine tasks, as well, as to make complex database changes.

Liquibase

Liquibase

Liquibase is th leading open-source tool for database schema change management. Liquibase helps teams track, version, and deploy database schema and logic changes so they can automate their database code process with their app code process.

Sequel Pro

Sequel Pro

Sequel Pro is a fast, easy-to-use Mac database management application for working with MySQL databases.

DBeaver

DBeaver

It is a free multi-platform database tool for developers, SQL programmers, database administrators and analysts. Supports all popular databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, Sybase, Teradata, MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, etc.

dbForge SQL Complete

dbForge SQL Complete

It is an IntelliSense add-in for SQL Server Management Studio, designed to provide the fastest T-SQL query typing ever possible.

Knex.js

Knex.js

Knex.js is a "batteries included" SQL query builder for Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite3, and Oracle designed to be flexible, portable, and fun to use. It features both traditional node style callbacks as well as a promise interface for cleaner async flow control, a stream interface, full featured query and schema builders, transaction support (with savepoints), connection pooling and standardized responses between different query clients and dialects.

Flyway

Flyway

It lets you regain control of your database migrations with pleasure and plain sql. Solves only one problem and solves it well. It migrates your database, so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

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