We require a relational database that is open-source, scalable,
supports complex queries, and ensures high availability. The database
should also provide strong transactional guarantees and flexibility for
future expansion.
Decision
PostgreSQL is selected due to the following
reasons:
Pros:
Open-source, eliminating vendor lock-in and licensing costs.
ACID compliance for reliable transactions.
Extensible (support for JSONB, custom indexing, and full-text
search).
Cons: Requires some team members to upskill, but
manageable.
Conclusion: PostgreSQL provides the best balance
between flexibility, scalability, and long-term maintainability.
Alternatives Considered
MongoDB
Pros: Great for unstructured data with a flexible
document model.
Cons: Weak ACID compliance; limited support for
relational data.
Reason to Discard: Our use case is primarily
relational with strong transaction needs.
Microsoft SQL Server
Pros: Enterprise-level features and high
performance.
Cons: High licensing fees; vendor lock-in.
Reason to Discard: Costly and less flexible
compared to open-source solutions.
Consequences
Migrate the current database from [existing DB] to PostgreSQL,
ensuring data integrity and minimizing downtime.
Refactor existing queries to leverage PostgreSQL’s advanced features
such as JSONB for semi-structured data and full-text search for improved
query performance.
Team training is required but deemed manageable with significant
long-term benefits.
Update the backup and recovery strategy to accommodate
PostgreSQL-specific tools and procedures.