NoSQL and SQL EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW. An Object Lesson THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AUG James Curtis, Senior Analyst, Data Platforms & Analytics

Transcription

1 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AUG 2016 NoSQL and SQL An Object Lesson James Curtis, Senior Analyst, Data Platforms & Analytics The NoSQL movement started in 2009, with the promise of bringing the advantages of open source, flexible schemas, scalability, and low-cost commodity hardware to the database world. How has NoSQL fared after seven years? NoSQL databases are showing strong growth, but the traditional relational databases still dominate the database market. But for how long? RESEARCH, LLC

2 ABOUT 451 RESEARCH 451 Research is a preeminent information technology research and advisory company. With a core focus on technology innovation and market disruption, we provide essential insight for leaders of the digital economy. More than 100 analysts and consultants deliver that insight via syndicated research, advisory services and live events to over 1,000 client organizations in North America, Europe and around the world. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in New York, 451 Research is a division of The 451 Group Research, LLC and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction and distribution of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form without prior written permission is forbidden. The terms of use regarding distribution, both internally and externally, shall be governed by the terms laid out in your Service Agreement with 451 Research and/or its Affiliates. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. 451 Research disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of such information. Although 451 Research may discuss legal issues related to the information technology business, 451 Research does not provide legal advice or services and their research should not be construed or used as such. 451 Research shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The reader assumes sole responsibility for the selection of these materials to achieve its intended results. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO LONDON BOSTON 20 West 37th Street 3rd Floor New York, NY P F Geary Street 9th Floor San Francisco, CA P F Gower Street London, UK WC1E 6HH P +44 (0) F +44 (0) Liberty Square, 5th Floor Boston, MA P F ABOUT THE AUTHOR JAMES CURTIS SENIOR ANALYST, DATA PLATFORMS & ANALYTICS James Curtis is a senior analyst at 451 Research. He has had experience covering the BI reporting and analytics sector and presently has coverage responsibility for Hadoop, NoSQL, and related analytic and operational database technologies. II

3 Key Findings NoSQL is not a new term, but its definition has now morphed from not SQL to not only SQL, a much more reconciliatory term that recognizes the strengths of SQL-based relational databases. NoSQL databases often address specific use-case deficiencies within an organization that are either too difficult or not feasible to address with a relational database. While small in market share numbers, NoSQL databases have been growing and maturing quickly. NoSQL is not a fad but a legitimate database model and will be around for quite some time. While the relational database market holds a commanding market share today, NoSQL databases continue to gain traction, growing at an estimated 43% CAGR between now and Organizations look at NoSQL databases for a variety of reasons namely scalability, lower cost, availability, low latency and elasticity, which we identify with the acronym SCALE. NoSQL database vendors are adopting multiple data models in an effort to build out more well-rounded, general purpose databases to better compete with relational databases. The traditional relational database market consists of a number of standards that have guided the industry for a number of decades, such as the relational model, the SQL query language and ACID compliance (atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability). Unlike the relational database market, there are few, if any, consistent standards. NoSQL database vendors, however, have been active in integrating SQL and SQL-like querying tools. JavaScript Object Notion (JSON) could also be considered a mainstay of NoSQL databases, particularly for document databases. The relational database vendors have not ignored the NoSQL market. In fact, many have released their own NoSQL database offerings, as well as adding JSON support to their relational databases. III

4 Executive Summary INTRODUCTION It has been seven years since the NoSQL database movement started to take off. The first mention of NoSQL and its intended meaning in 1998 is much different from how NoSQL is defined now. Initially, NoSQL stood for not SQL, a term to clearly differentiate certain up-and-coming technologies that were decidedly not based on the relational and SQL query language. Today, NoSQL is defined as not only SQL, which is not so much a protest against SQL-based, relational databases but a different database model that is complementary to, or even borrows characteristics of, relational databases. Since 2009 when the NoSQL market started to gain traction, we have seen dramatic growth in non-relational databases in what we collectively categorize as the family of NoSQL databases. By our estimates, we see NoSQL continuing to grow and mature as an alternative database model. However, the relational database market is also expected to grow. How will these two databases models coexist? Is NoSQL a passing fad? As was the case when XML and object database previously rose up to challenge the relational database dominance, will NoSQL capabilities eventually become subsumed by the relational database vendors? We discuss these and other points in greater detail in this report. Relational databases may currently dominate the database landscape in terms of overall users, market share and revenue, but NoSQL databases are in no way fringe products. METHODOLOGY Reports such as this one represent a holistic perspective on key emerging markets in the enterprise IT space. These markets evolve quickly, though, so 451 Research offers additional services that provide critical marketplace updates. These updated reports and perspectives are presented on a daily basis via the company s core intelligence service, 451 Research Market Insight. Forward-looking M&A analysis and perspectives on strategic acquisitions and the liquidity environment for technology companies are also updated regularly via Market Insight, which is backed by the industry-leading 451 Research M&A KnowledgeBase. Emerging technologies and markets are covered in 451 Research channels including Business Applications; Cloud Transformation; Data Platforms and Analytics; Datacenter Technologies; Development, DevOps and IT Ops; Enterprise Mobility; European Services; Information Security; Internet of Things; Mobile Telecom; Multi-Tenant Datacenters; Networking; Service Providers; Storage; and Systems and Software Infrastructure. Beyond that, 451 Research has a robust set of quantitative insights covered in products such as Voice of the Enterprise, Voice of the Connected User Landscape, Market Monitor, the M&A KnowledgeBase and the Datacenter KnowledgeBase. All of these 451 Research services, which are accessible via the Web, provide critical and timely analysis specifically focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation. For more information about 451 Research, please go to: IV

5 Table of Contents 1. NOSQL: A HISTORY LESSON 1 NOSQL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE HOW DO WE DEFINE NOSQL TODAY? 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF RELATIONAL DATABASES AND WHY THEY GET USED CHARACTERISTICS OF NOSQL DATABASES AND WHY THEY GET USED DIFFERENT TYPES OF NOSQL DATABASES RELATIONAL AND NOSQL DATABASE MARKET NUMBERS 5 Figure 1: Total Revenue for Operational Database Segment WHERE ARE WE HEADED? 7 TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE NOSQL ADOPTING TRAITS OF SQL Adopting the SQL Query Language RELATIONAL DATABASES RESPOND TO NOSQL Adding NoSQL Databases of Their Own Adding JSON to Relational Databases SNAPSHOT OF NOSQL DATABASES AND VENDORS 11 Figure 2: NoSQL Database Providers Figure 3: The NoSQL Landscape WHERE WILL WE END UP? 13 MULTI-MODEL SPURS GENERAL-PURPOSE APPLICATIONS INCUMBENTS RESPOND WITH WE HAVE THAT TOO APPROACH CONCLUSIONS FURTHER READING INDEX OF COMPANIES 16 V