Re: More on Postgresql 8.1 beta

For non "embedded" database applications Postgresql is far superior to Firebird see below:

For native Delphi Postgres access you can use Zeos http://www.zeoslib.net or PostgresDAC(what I use) from www.microolap.com
Both work very well, but with PostgresDAC you get support and better feature support for Postgres.

Postgresql does not have the weird "dialects" that Firebird has.
Postgresql has every imaginable function built in, with Firebird you have to resort to sometimes flakey UDFs
Postgresql has native GIS support.
Postgresql has temp tables Firebird does not.
Postgresql has more than one procedure language(PL-Perl,PL-PHP,PL-Java etc)
Postgresql functions are not limited to PSQL as Firebird is(firebird must use EXECUTE to use non PSQL code in functions.
Postgresql has tablespaces.
Postgresql has a seperate transaction log(datbases don't become bloated as they do in firebird)
Postgresql has point in time recovery(via transaction log)
Postgresql has hot backup and restore(so does firebird, but PGs is much more flexible)
Postgresql has a native win32 port(as does Firebird)
Postgresql has a much better security system.(you can control who can access by hostname/IP address/subnet and you can have a variety of password encryptions and it works with SELinux)
Postgresql has native SSL support built in.
Postgresql has a much larger developer base with support by large companies such as Fujitsu.
Postgresql has a much better development schedule(Firebird 2 and Vulcan have been in development forever)
Postgresql has a try except error handling system
Postgresql has INCREDIBLE docs, see for yourself at http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/interactive/index.html
Postgresql has replication available (slony)

All the system tables/views are fully documented, it's a breeze to pull in fields/function/table DDL. Try finding detailed docs for the Firebird System tables...

Postgresql has schema(namespace) support(once you use schemas you will wonder how you ever got along without them)

Postgresql also has the ability to run queries against other databases via DBLINK.

Version 8.1 has support for two phase commit and Oracle Style IN/OUT/INOUT function/param args plus lots more that will bring it a lot closer to Oracle's enterprise cababilities.

Postgresql also has a better reputation as a Enterprise capable database in the corp IT circle.

It's also fairly easy to move databases from Firebird to Postgres as the DDL is almost exact(except for procs) and with 8.1 IN/OUT/INOUT function params porting procs will be pretty easy also.

Hope this helps.

--
Tony Caduto
http://www.amsoftwaredesign.com
Home of PG Lightning Admin for Postgresql 8.x




Sarah wrote: 
tony wrote:

Beta Testers wanted.
http://www.postgresql.org/developer/beta



Any ideas how PostgreSQL compare with FireBird?
Is it better than FireBird?

PostgreSQL
==========
1. PostgreSQL is widely used (and more tested) than FireBird.
2. ?

FireBird
========
1. FireBird has API level Delphi components for optimized data access, that works faster than the ADO.
2. ?

Thanks,
Sarah



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