5 Reasons to Consider a Migration to Open-Source PostgreSQL in 2024

image to represent an oracle to postgres migration

The database market is always changing, and organizations are looking for solutions that meet their evolving requirements while also adhering to current trends. Open-source PostgreSQL, more commonly known as Postgres, is emerging as a viable solution for businesses considering a move. With more than two decades of active development and a reputation for staying on top of emerging trends, Postgres is a popular choice among companies of all sizes and industries. Its cost efficiency, growing popularity, worry-free structure, compatibility with specific enterprise-class features, higher performance, and scalability serve as compelling advantages that give Postgres a notable leg up over the competition.

Cost Efficiency

As an open-source database platform, PostgreSQL offers organizations a powerful and free enterprise-grade solution without compromising performance or reliability. In contrast, Oracle’s annual support fee is 22% of the net license fee, increasing annually by 8%, making long-term budgeting challenging. Unlike Oracle, PostgreSQL incurs no licensing costs, boosting ROI and enabling resource reallocation to critical areas like security training or technology upgrades. Additionally, PostgreSQL surpasses larger competitors in hardware cost savings, running on commodity-based hardware with minimal technical support requirements, thus avoiding exorbitant hardware and maintenance expenses.

Worry-Free Structure

In the realm of information technology, peace of mind is invaluable. The last concern IT professionals need to worry about is the possibility of facing a substantial bill or fine following an audit from their software provider. Unfortunately, such instances occur frequently. Our observation reveals that approximately 40% of our clients utilizing enterprise software are non-compliant and face the risk of unexpected charges due to minor errors, such as enabling a new feature. To avoid unexpected price increases, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars, you will need to sign a contract to join the provider’s cloud service. However, with Postgres, you never have to worry about that happening because Postgres operates on an open-source model and compliance remains in the hands of users, minimizing the risk of unforeseen expenses.

Growing Popularity & Credibility

Postgres’ price, or lack thereof, and worry-free structure are significant factors contributing to its growing popularity. The PostgreSQL community is known for their engaged and supportive nature and its collaborative environment creates a place for problem solving, knowledge sharing, and a sense of community that is inherent in the appeal and stability of PostgreSQL. DB-Engines ranking of database systems according to their current popularity. 

postgres ranking

The figure above demonstrates DB-Engines ranking of database systems according to their current popularity. The popularity of these databases are based on the following criteria:

  • Frequency of technical discussions about the system
  • Number of job offers, in which the system is mentioned
  • Number of profiles in professional networks, in which the system is mentioned
  • Relevance in social networks
  • Number of mentions of the system on websites
  • General interest in the system (Google Trends)

It is also worth noting that Amazon Aurora, a cloud-based relational database service, is compatible with PostgreSQL, a fact that increases its appeal. Knowing that PostgreSQL is used by Amazon itself, a giant in cloud solution provider, only further enhances the implementation’s credibility, serving as a suitable choice for enterprises in search of a secure and scalable database solution.

Flexibility & Compatibility

Like other major database platforms, Postgres supports a wide variety of programming languages, including PL/pgSQL, PL/Tcl, PL/Perl, and PL/Python. It is also compatible with UNIX, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Perhaps its biggest selling point is that, when compared to some of its competitors, it supports a much broader range of APIs, making it more compatible with many applications, add-ons, and SQL environments.

Another advantage is that Postgres is compatible with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, the three most popular places to host your architecture. More often than not, the clients for whom we build solutions require them to be on one of these three major cloud platforms. Especially with the cloud gaining momentum, most companies are moving in this direction. Therefore, the fact that it integrates seamlessly with these platforms is highly significant. When it comes to flexibility, Postgres is adaptable enough to manage many unique database scenarios. In fact, PostgreSQL is frequently chosen for managing intricate, high-capacity data tasks that could pose challenges for other open-source databases such as MySQL. Moreover, PostgreSQL extends its functionality beyond basic storage of table and column information, enabling users to define data types, index types, and functional languages.

Performance & Scalability

In 2024, performance and scalability are crucial factors when choosing a database. PostgreSQL stands out among open-source databases, offering efficient query execution, indexing strategies, and the ability to integrate third-party software like full-text searching. With Postgres, you can scale your database both horizontally and vertically to accommodate business growth, making it ideal for high-volume applications. In today’s competitive digital landscape, a flexible database that can grow with your needs is essential—and that’s PostgreSQL.

Getting Started with Postgres

In 2024, PostgreSQL emerges as a compelling choice for businesses considering a migration, offering over two decades of active development and a reputation for staying ahead of industry trends. Its cost efficiency, seen in the absence of licensing costs and compatibility with cost-effective hardware, allows organizations to redirect resources strategically. With its worry-free structure, growing popularity, and flexibility demonstrated through language support and compatibility with major cloud platforms, PostgreSQL proves to be a reliable and adaptable database solution. Bravesoft is ready to assist your seamless migration – reach out today for personalized guidance on unlocking the full potential of PostgreSQL for your business.

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