MariaDB vs MySQL

Hello Big Data enthusiasts! Today, we are going to talk about the two most popular databases for Big Data: MariaDB and MySQL. Both MariaDB and MySQL are open-source relational databases forked from the same parent project (MySQL) and they are quite similar in many ways. However, there are some key differences between these two databases that might be worth considering when making a decision on which one to use for your Big Data projects.

Performance

When it comes to performance, both databases have similar benchmarks, but MariaDB generally performs better than MySQL in complex queries. According to a benchmark test by MariaDB Corporation Ab, MariaDB recorded faster results in 10 of the 12 benchmark tests conducted. In fact, in the test scenarios that required query optimizations, MariaDB recorded a performance gain of up to 200 percent over MySQL.

Features

MariaDB has several additional features compared to MySQL such as support for Virtual columns, Microsecond support, JSON functions, and Threadpool. Additionally, MariaDB has several storage engines, including InnoDB which can handle both transactional and non-transactional workloads. MySQL only comes with a limited set of storage engines including InnoDB, MyISAM, and Memory.

Licensing

Another important factor to consider is licensing. MariaDB is released under GPLv2, LGPL, and BSD licenses. In addition to this, MariaDB Corporation offers a commercial license with additional features and support. The use of all these licenses makes sure that no one has to pay to use the software for most purposes. Similarly, MySQL is also released under GPLv2 that allows free use, distribution, and modification. However, if you want to use MySQL in commercial environments, you will have to pay for a commercial license.

Community Support

MySQL and MariaDB both have their own respective active communities that provide free support and resources, however, MariaDB's community seems to be growing faster than MySQL. The number of questions posted on Stackoverflow, Github issues, and forks on Github suggest that MariaDB is gaining more popularity among developers.

Conclusion

In summary, both MariaDB and MySQL have their own strengths and weaknesses. Based on the performance benchmarks and added functionality, MariaDB might be a better option for complex queries and data processing. On the other hand, MySQL may be a better choice for simpler data needs, thanks to its lightweight nature. The choice of database ultimately depends on your specific Big Data needs and preferences, so it's important to carefully evaluate them and ask yourself how different factors like features, licensing, and community support contribute to your decision.

References:

• MariaDB vs MySQL by MariaDB Corporation Ab
• "What's the difference between MariaDB and MySQL?" by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. Published: January 31, 2019.