Plz,

i want to know what are the differences between Oracle and MS SQL server,
or simply when i should decide to use Oracle and when to use MS SQL

thanks alot

The content below is without pre-judice towards MSSQL or Oracle.

Asumption: You develop web based applications.(not standlone desktop apps), becuase you posted this in the "web"mastertalk-forum.

Go for MS-SQL :

• Smaller projects where finding oracle on shared hosting servers is a challenge.
• When the programming language is a Microsoft language.
• When the server HAS TO BE a windows server.
• When you dont expect too much traffic on the server
• When budget is low
• When project is not mission critical
• When client wants a database server, irrespective of whether its required or not!(alrite I accept....alright this is too much, but still).

For all others go for Oracle, MySQL or PostGreSQL.

--Amit.

Oracle for larger scale. Usually it comes with more features for enterprise dev. Can run both platform (if you think to migrate it in future) and easier to integrate with almost all programming language.

Thanks alot for your interest
the replies are fast and so helpful
thanks again

First question is what are you trying to do?

Can you just buy an off the shelf package to do what you need?

Do you have any existing databases in place and what are they?

If it's for a small Internet type company then I'd plum for MySQL 5 (it's cheap and easy to implement).

If you feel the need to spend more money then MS SQL server or Sybase (they are very similar).

If you must have the fastest performance for 10k users or are likely to be storing 100m of records then perhaps Oracle. The cost is likely to be more for an Oracle system due to longer development times and higher costs associated with Oracle dev people.

Mike

Actually, I'm not that good in database stuff. So, don't laugh at these questions :
1) Oracle vs MS SQL vs MySQL. How will you judge the 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize ?
2) Can MySQL be used for desktop applications ?
3) Does MySQL run on Windows and Linux platforms ?
4) Is there any difference in the syntax in all these database servers ?

Thanks in advance. Please describe in a "ultra" n00b way. lol.

1) Oracle vs MS SQL vs MySQL. How will you judge the 1st, 2nd & 3rd prize ?

You can't - it's horses for courses. If you're just getting into databases then I'd suggest MySQL 5. The best way to use it is with a language like PHP on a web server. You may find you're existing server provider already supplies both.

2) Can MySQL be used for desktop applications ?

Yes - if you write them yourself. But why produce desktop applications when the rest of the world is moving towards web based applications and thin clients.

3) Does MySQL run on Windows and Linux platforms ?

Yes - http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html

4) Is there any difference in the syntax in all these database servers ?

Yes but the bare bones SQL is very similar.

Originally Posted by mike_bike_kite

Yes - if you write them yourself. But why produce desktop applications when the rest of the world is moving towards web based applications and thin clients.

I don't think Photoshop or Excel are going anywhere soon ... desktop apps will have their place for another 10 or 20 years.

I don't think Photoshop or Excel are going anywhere soon ... desktop apps will have their place for another 10 or 20 years.

You're quite right. I was thinking purely about 3rd party apps and forgot entirely about the stuff already on the machine.

Mike

Originally Posted by Zitku

Go for MS-SQL :

• When the server HAS TO BE a windows server.

For all others go for Oracle, MySQL or PostGreSQL.

Or when Windows is just simply preferred. Most of us use Windows every day, so Windows Server is much easier to pick up than Unix variants.

If you have a full time DBA then use Oracle. If you're a developer that will also manage the database then use MS SQL.