The development of Navigator365 requires us to constantly seek the best technology for the growing needs of users. One key step we took was migrating databases from Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) to PostgreSQL. What prompted us to make such a major decision?
Lower licensing costs
Microsoft SQL is an excellent product, widely used in medium and large enterprises. Unfortunately, changes in licensing make it too expensive for smaller customers. Using some database components significantly increased installation costs, requiring higher (and thus more costly) licensing models.
PostgreSQL is open-source software, which means there are no licensing fees. Besides, the license allows access to the system’s source codes, which means that a huge amount of material supporting the management of this database engine can be found in publicly available resources.
On the other hand, commercial support for PostgreSQL installations is available, for more demanding users. Thus, we have a solution that allows both: free installations with all the system functionalities and commercial support for large installations.
More flexibility in the operating environment
PostgreSQL can be installed on virtually any modern operating system such as Windows, Linux or macOS. This allows us to install it on our existing infrastructure without having to buy additional licenses, for example.
JSON data support and NoSQL functionality
Modern applications are increasingly using flexible data structures. PostgreSQL enables native storage and processing of data in JSON format, which opens up new opportunities for Navigator365 development.
The openness of the code allows you to add your functionality
PostgreSQL allows you to add your own functions, operators or data types. This allows us to customize the database to meet the specific requirements of the system without the limitations of a closed ecosystem.
Efficient concurrency handling
PostgreSQL uses the MVCC (Multi-Version Concurrency Control) mechanism to manage concurrency in the database, which allows multiple operations to be performed simultaneously by different transactions without these operations blocking each other. This allows for smooth operation even with a large number of concurrent queries. It is crucial for a system that supports multiple users simultaneously.
Community support and documentation
A broad community of users, administrators and developers has built up around PostgreSQL (which is an open-source solution). This community has produced very extensive documentation in the form of tutorials, case studies and other materials.
There are also active forums and groups within the community where users exchange knowledge. This facilitates troubleshooting and implementation of new solutions, which is extremely important in deployment models based on no-code and low-code concepts.
Advanced replication and scaling options
PostgreSQL gives us more options for replicating data and scaling the database as the system grows. Importantly, we can take advantage of the available tools without being tied to a specific vendor.
Compliance with SQL standards
PostgreSQL strictly adheres to SQL standards, which increases the portability of applications in the future. This allows us to integrate the system with other tools more easily.
Control over data integrity
Extensive data integrity controls, such as foreign keys and the ability to define custom data types, allow us to take care of the quality of data stored in the system.
So was it worth to migrate the data to PostgresSQL?
Yes! It is a decision that allows us to better adapt Navigator365 infrastructure to the requirements of modern applications. We gain more flexibility, control over data and lower maintenance costs. It’s a step toward a more scalable and efficient system that will better support the future growth of our users.