Popular Open Source Databases

An open-source database is a database management system (DBMS) developed and distributed with its source code freely available to the public. This means anyone can view, modify, and distribute the database software.

Some of the popular open-source databases are as follows:

• MySQL
• MariaDB
• SQLite
• PostgreSQL

MySQL

MySQL is one of the most widely used relational database management systems (RDBMS). Known for its reliability and ease of use, it’s commonly used in web applications and is the database behind many popular websites.

Because of its small size, speed, and very good documentation, MySQL has quickly become the most popular open-source database. MySQL is available on both Windows and Unix, but it lacks some key features, such as support for stored procedures.

MariaDB

MariaDB is a fork of MySQL created by the original developers of MySQL. It aims to maintain compatibility with MySQL while offering additional features and improvements. It is often seen as a drop-in replacement for MySQL.

SQLite

SQLite is a lightweight, self-contained database engine that’s easy to set up and use. It’s ideal for embedded systems and applications where simplicity and minimal setup are important.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an advanced RDBMS that emphasizes extensibility and standards compliance. It supports complex queries, foreign keys, triggers, views, and stored procedures. PostgreSQL is known for its robustness and ability to handle large volumes of data. It is a featureful and robust database management system and a good choice for people who want some of the advanced features that MySQL doesn’t yet have.