Software Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
High performance, simple to use, and straightforward development
Pros and Cons
  • "MySQL is easy to use, has fast performance, and it is comfortable for end-user to use. The schema level and structure we are using are very simple and easy to understand. Additionally, packaging tool development is straightforward and the data is presented in a way that is very simple to understand."
  • "In an upcoming release, there should be something added similar to EPL. For example, when using the flow diagram, we can create a schema. We have two useful features to add or create the table, but there should be some UI features to allow us to drag and drop to create other schemas. This would be very helpful."

What is our primary use case?

We are using MySQL for backend operations since we are a software backend developer. We are using this tool in our backend application for acquiring the data.

We mainly use MySQL for our Relational Database Management System(RDBMS). We are maintaining our customer data in a defined way. We have to create various schema levels. We are presenting the customer data, such as name, mobile number, what was purchased, and what they like or dislike. Once we create the schema, a set of data, we need to maintain the unique constraints.

For example, for customers, we'll assign a unique ID to each record, that will be a primary key. All these SQL constraints we'll use and there should no variance or replication of data isolated. When we perform any update operations, it should not affect any of the data isolated. 

We need to take care of many things, such as consistency, isolation, and variability for constructing any database. There are a few more concepts as well, such as normalization and PL/SQL. For example, if I want to run a job at a particular time, the product will use PL/SQL. We are like implementing our coding skills to databases.

Our operations are on-premise. However, we are in the process of moving everything to the cloud.

How has it helped my organization?

We have many repositories in one table that we are completing for customers' data that are store product data. There are various pieces of data and data should be in the same format. For this purpose, we are using RDBMS. The data in the repository should be able to be accessed in one place which is Oracle SQL Developer. MySQL can store data for a longer duration as compared to other data solutions, such as MariaDB, which can only store data for one day. MySQL can store data for a longer period of time, and we can have primary and secondary data as well for backup purposes.

What is most valuable?

MySQL is easy to use, has fast performance, and it is comfortable for end-user to use. The schema level and structure we are using are very simple and easy to understand. Additionally, packaging tool development is straightforward and the data is presented in a way that is very simple to understand.

What needs improvement?

MySQL can improve some of its functions. However, it is dependent on the use case. For example, if we are having multiple database connections in this tool, and we are performing one operation in one database, it takes a lot of time due to the reason we are selecting and processing the data. When we have a lot of data it takes a longer time. The transaction gets stuck in a queue and if we try to stop that particular transaction, it won't abort until all the selected records have been processed. This sometimes can be a lot of time and it can hold up our live processing of transactions. This product should be able to handle multiple processing at a time.

In an upcoming release, there should be something added similar to EPL. For example, when using the flow diagram, we can create a schema. We have two useful features to add or create the table, but there should be some UI features to allow us to drag and drop to create other schemas. This would be very helpful.

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April 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using MySQL for approximately four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have found the development tools to be highly stable in MySQL.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of MySQL is very good. There are no barriers to it. It can be used and accommodated in any particular language. We can use it with Java and Python.

We have almost everyone in my organization using the solution. We have developers and support teams all using it. If my organization has 1,000 people, almost 900 people out of them were using the service.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have evaluated MariaDB.

How was the initial setup?

We use a solution called Jenkins to help us with all the pipelines. The pipelines are all created and configured in the Jenkins. We are in a distributed server architecture and the full process can take approximately 20 minutes for one server.

What about the implementation team?

If we have a large amount of data we have to take care of it. If this particular data is not used over the years, we have to make maintenance decisions on it after we use it. The developer administrator and the team will be responsible.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We are using the licensed version of MySQL.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise others that this is a useful tool.

I rate MySQL an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Systems Administrator at Dairibord
Real User
Great performance and useful for running email system
Pros and Cons
  • "One of the most valuable features is MySQL's ability to run our email system. We use a system called Colab."
  • "MySQL could be improved by adding more automation."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for MySQL is for running applications on our Linux boxes. We have very few applications that run online, but we use MySQL on those boxes, primarily for our email system. We haven't considered working on cloud, so all our solutions are on-premises. 

What is most valuable?

One of the most valuable features is MySQL's ability to run our email system. We use a system called Colab. 

What needs improvement?

MySQL could be improved by adding more automation. There are no additional features I would like to see that I can think of at the moment. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using MySQL for a few years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This product is stable. I'm very satisfied with the performance. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Since MySQL is running our email system, there are around 200 users. It's installed on one of the servers and the admins are the ones who interact with the system itself if the need arises. 

How are customer service and support?

I have never contacted Oracle's technical support. If we have any issues, we've got some recommended support people here in Zimbabwe that we contact. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I didn't use any other solution before implementing MySQL. We also use MariaDB, but not on a very big scale.

How was the initial setup?

The installation was a very straightforward process. It took about a day and we did it ourselves. 

What about the implementation team?

We implemented through an in-house team. One person, the admin, can handle it. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We are using the free version of MySQL. We prefer paying for a yearly license. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?


What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution an eight out of ten. I would recommend this solution to others and I'm very satisfied with its performance. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
MySQL
April 2024
Learn what your peers think about MySQL. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2024.
770,428 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Kevin Honde - PeerSpot reviewer
Data Solution Architect at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Free and easy to use but needs better backup functionality
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution has been very easy to scale so far."
  • "The backup methods need improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We are primarily using it as a database for our products. For internally built systems, we have MySQL. We use it internally.

What is most valuable?

It's our database due to the fact that it's cheaper and is actually free to use.

The product is very easy to use, yes.

It's quite stable.

The solution is very compatible with many versions of Linux. Most of Linux is free, so it's easy to implement with MySQL. Whether it's Ubuntu, CentOS, or different types of Linux, it's the same across other operating systems, and therefore it's very easy to use and compatible with any demand that comes from developers. At the end of the day, MySQL is compatible with most of the platforms.

The solution has been very easy to scale so far.

The installation process is very easy.

What needs improvement?

The backup methods need improvement. MySQL needs to improve its backup methods so that you can actually do a backup without affecting products. Currently, when you're doing your backup, it locks the database. When someone tries to access it during a backup, it fails to read or to update. They can improve on the backup and all the backup features in general.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for more than five years at this point. It may be as much as seven years or so.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable in terms of performance.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. If you want to install it in the machine and scale that machine, you can do so. Or you add more machine nodes whereby you are actually clustering items and you're clustering your database within one site. The solution will actually extend these needs to another site for replication, DR replication.

We have about 20 people using the solution currently.

We do plan to continue to use the solution in the future.

How are customer service and technical support?

All of our support is internal. We haven't subscribed to outside technical support.

That said, we haven't had any issues with the solution that would require support assistance either.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex at all. It is very easy to install as most of the Linux comes embedded so that even if you're under a different administrator, you should be able to just click and install.

Installation doesn't take more than 10 minutes for me. It might take up to 30 minutes or an hour for someone who is new. However, for someone who is used to MySQL, doesn't take more than 10 minutes to set up.

For deployment and maintenance, basically, we would need about three engineers. The one that actually does the hardware infrastructure, the one that does the operating system, and then the one that actually does the MySQL, which is the database administrator.

What about the implementation team?

I handled the implementation myself. I did not need the assistance of integrators or consultants. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is absolutely free to use. It's one of the reasons we've chosen it.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We do evaluate other solutions. We also use other products, such as Oracle's SQL server.

When a trace comes for MySQL, we will check mostly the cost of installation and the cost for maintaining everything. We are choosing MySQL over the others that are actually licensed solutions mostly due to the fact that MySQL is free.

What other advice do I have?

We are just customers and end-users. We don't have a business relationship with MySQL.

I'd recommend the solution to other organizations.

I would rate it at a seven out of ten overall. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
IT Consultant at Woohoogeeks
Real User
ExpertModerator
Free, cost-effective, with a powerful plethora of tools
Pros and Cons
  • "Like other databases, it has a rich set of functions, such as stored procedures and its own procedural language, which is akin to Oracle SQL. It also has trigger and cursor commands you would expect with a good database language."
  • "MySQL tutorials and guides could be improved. Often they are too complex for someone with no database experience to understand."

What is our primary use case?

It is an ideal database to use online learning environments and SMEs. It works well with  Moodle, the open-source learning solution, and is the defacto standard for that product as Moodle is written in PHP which generally goes hand-in-hand with MySQL. As it is an open-source and free solution it is an economical method of storing important companies or small business data. At the same time, it offers a rich set of functions comparable to other large-scale enterprise solutions such as SQL Server and Oracle. 

How has it helped my organization?

MySQL is easy to configure, use, and implement. It is free, and cost-effective, with a powerful plethora of tools. It has improved my organization for my clients using Moodle and MySQL databases, as problems are usually easier to fix quickly, and the database resources can be optimized, easily. Even though it is not as sophisticated as SQL Server and Oracle solutions, it is the database of choice for most Moodle implementations. It has a history of reliability, which is always useful in a business environment.

What is most valuable?

The Cross-platform support for MySQL is great, as you don't need to worry about which platform or operating system you need to install the platform. This allows for interoperability.

Like other databases, it has a rich set of functions, such as stored procedures and its own procedural language, which is akin to Oracle SQL. It also has trigger and cursor commands you would expect with a good database language.

Views are updateable, which is useful when you need to amend a specific view of data for different circumstances.

It has it's own Data Definition Language (DDL), and provides an Information Schema, to view what is "under the bonnet" of your database.

What needs improvement?

MySQL tutorials and guides could be improved. Often they are too complex for someone with no database experience to understand. 

It is not an easy database to learn for the novice, and very often users need to take a course, employ the use of an online tutor, or IT professional to assist. Also, it is known that it is often difficult to locate guides for specific functions for developers.

It might be good to have some way of creating web services easier, rather than having to write a User Defined Function (UDF) in PHP.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using MySQL for about 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

MySQL has a reputation for stability, and that is one of the reasons it is so popular. Because it is easily available, just works, and can be integrated reasonably easily into other software, it is often the default platform of choice. 

It has been around for years, and chances are it will be around for the next 10 years or so, as new versions continue to evolve.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

MySQL is scalable for SMEs and works on a number of different operating systems.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have not had many issues with MySQL in the past, so I rarely use the support service.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used various databases in the past, but for my current business needs, MySQL is ideal.

How was the initial setup?

It was a simple setup, as it was included in the Moodle installation process for implementing learning sites.

What was our ROI?

ROI is not applicable, as MySQL is open source and is free, so you could say it is only the investment of implementing the database in your environment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Pricing depends on the size of your business. For an individual to SME sized business the MySQL solution should be adequate for your needs. Setup costs are minimal.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Yes, but for Moodle Learning sites, SQL Server is more complex, and is not multi-platform, Oracle is not recommended for Moodle, but the nearest to MySQL is ProstgreSQL. MySQL is reliable and easy to use. 

What other advice do I have?

You do need to have technical knowledge of databases in general, but MySQL is not too difficult to learn if used alongside PHPMyAdmin, but there are other tools you could consider, such as MySQL Workbench.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Waqar Malik - PeerSpot reviewer
System Analyst at National University of Sciences and Technology
Real User
Top 5
There are no costs involved in its use
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool is open-source and there is no cost involved in its use."
  • "I would like to see some improvements in the solution’s integration aspects."

What is our primary use case?

We use MySQL for storing data on the web server. It is a competitor of Apache. The solution can also be used for analytics, warehousing, and Big Data.

What is most valuable?

The tool is open-source and there is no cost involved in its use.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see some improvements in the solution’s integration aspects.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using MySQL for ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have optimized and stabilized the solution over a period of eight to six months.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There are around 60 plus users for the tool in our company.

How was the initial setup?

There is a 25 member team involved in the tool’s maintenance and deployment.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. The solution’s users have the liberty of custom management. We can implement the solution in Azure, which is Microsoft’s advanced version.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Ertugrul Akbas - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager at ANET
Real User
Top 5
Easy to use, fast, and developer-friendly, but it should have better support for big data
Pros and Cons
  • "MySQL is a popular database platform for businesses because it is extremely easy to use."
  • "When it comes to supporting big data, there is space to improve upon the database engines that are supported by MySQL."

What is our primary use case?

We developed a network monitoring software and used MySQL as a backend database.

We utilized the two most common and popular MySQL database engines, MyISAM and InnoDB.

We store collected monitoring data and configuration data on MySQL. Also, our network monitoring solution reporting module is based on the MySQL MyISAM database engine.

We use both Windows and Linux versions of MySQL, and we utilize the backup and recovery features.

To summarize, our primary use case is the embedded DB component for our network management software.

How has it helped my organization?

MySQL is a popular database platform for businesses because it is extremely easy to use. It is commonly used in combination with PHP and Java. For instance, someone with little to no knowledge of MySQL can easily establish a database connection and start programming immediately.

So MySQL improved our developing process speed. MySQL is a very popular and well-known database solution, so it is easy to find a MySQL developer.

MySQL performance also improved our NMS solution performance.

What is most valuable?

MySQL is a fast, easy-to-use RDBMS being used for many small and big businesses.

MySQL advantages and valuable points include:

  • MySQL is a very powerful program in its own right. It handles a large subset of the functionality of the most expensive and powerful database packages.
  • MySQL uses a standard form of the well-known SQL data language.
  • MySQL works on many operating systems and with many languages including PHP, PERL, C, C++, Java, etc.
  • MySQL works very quickly and works well, even with large datasets.
  • MySQL is very friendly to PHP and Java at the same time. Both PHP and Java are our development languages.

What needs improvement?

The two most common and popular MySQL database engines are MyISAM and InnoDB. Database engines provide the underlying functionality for MySQL to work with and process data. MyISAM is the default engine for MySQL for versions earlier than 5.5.5 and functions well in most scenarios.

However, depending on your needs, there are situations where another database engine, such as InnoDB, may be the better choice. For example, InnoDB supports transactions, whereas MyISAM does not. InnoDB also provides support for foreign keys, whereas MyISAM does not.

When it comes to supporting big data, there is space to improve upon the database engines that are supported by MySQL. An example of this is the Vertica DB engine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...), and offering support for it would be valuable.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using MySQL for more than ten years.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we used MSSQL and switched to MySQL because of performance issues.

How was the initial setup?

After installation, the maintanence is easy for an end-user.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

MySQL is released under an open-source license, so you have nothing to pay to use it.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Enterprise Architect at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
I can meet the RPO in almost real-time
Pros and Cons
  • "MySQL's clustering features are very strong, and you can automate scripting, so that helps. We wrote a Terraform script and ran it."
  • "Rather than going in-depth about the technical features, which a technical person can directly tell, I would say that MySQL should be able to adapt to the next framework. The 5G framework means an unstructured framework. So if MySQL becomes smoother and more adaptable, it'll be easier."

What is our primary use case?

Our main use case for MySQL is for applications and seamless migration to the DR site. And the application in this case is an airport application.

How has it helped my organization?

I can meet the RPO in almost real-time. This changes the customer experience. That testing still needs to happen, but that is one of the advantages of MySQL. We have found MySQL to be a very sturdy and strong database. And I have run it in a solution where it's almost real-time, so it runs very efficiently.

What is most valuable?

MySQL's clustering features are very strong, and you can automate scripting, so that helps. We wrote a Terraform script and ran it. 

What needs improvement?

Rather than going in-depth about the technical features, which a technical person can directly tell, I would say that MySQL should be able to adapt to the next framework. The 5G framework means an unstructured framework. So if MySQL becomes smoother and more adaptable, it'll be easier. In terms of new features, automation is always the biggest demand from our customers.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been doing pre-sales and working with MySQL since 2007.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would say that MySQL is definitely stable, but its scalability has yet to be tested. I cannot say right now.

How was the initial setup?

We follow an agile strategy, so deployment is done in parallel. In comparison to other databases, I have always found MySQL to be the most efficiently managed. Of course, I don't discount Postgres, but MySQL deployment always has gone smoothly. I've never had an issue during migration, even on the granular level. UID numbers, which we commonly face in Microsoft SQL, have never been a problem with MySQL.

What about the implementation team?

We use the implementation partners for OEM. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We get the standard packages, but mostly MySQL is freeware. You pay for a license to get the upgrades. We pay for an enterprise license if that is required, but that's not in every case. It depends.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate MySQL nine out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Deputy Director General at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
It is very easy to install and has all basic database features
Pros and Cons
  • "It is very easy to install and has all basic database features."
  • "We require more ease of use, scalability, and high availability. These are some of the critical features that we use and look for in a product. It should be easier to manage clusters. Scalability is very important for us because our projects and concurrency requirements are quite big. We also require high availability of the server, application, and other things. It should also have more performance-based features or enhancements from the performance point of view. When we divide a database, it should be able to handle the queries very fast."

What is our primary use case?

I have been working for 25 to 30 years in this domain, and during this time, I have used various products such as MySQL, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL. Currently, in my product, I am using PostgreSQL, and in some projects, I am using MySQL. We are using the latest version of this solution.

We do projects for various government departments. We have used this solution for the transport department for vehicle registration, driving license, and all such things. We have also used it for port projects, depots, educational counseling projects, school databases, higher education, and health registry. As an organization, we have a lot of use cases of this solution.

What is most valuable?

It is very easy to install and has all basic database features.

What needs improvement?

We require more ease of use, scalability, and high availability. These are some of the critical features that we use and look for in a product. It should be easier to manage clusters. Scalability is very important for us because our projects and concurrency requirements are quite big. We also require high availability of the server, application, and other things.

It should also have more performance-based features or enhancements from the performance point of view. When we divide a database, it should be able to handle the queries very fast.

How are customer service and technical support?

Whenever required, we also take support, but our people are quite experienced. They are able to manage it most of the time.

How was the initial setup?

Its installation is quite easy.

What about the implementation team?

We have our own people who do the deployment. We have various teams for various projects, and the size of the deployment team depends on the project. We have people who basically look after the DB activities, installation, and consolidation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is a licensing cost because we are going for a proprietary product. There are some other versions for which there is no licensing cost.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution depending on the project. If a project requires the kind of features that are available in this solution, I would recommend this solution.

I would rate MySQL an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Implementer
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free MySQL Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free MySQL Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.