How does TOAST compare to other databases' mechanisms? - Mailing list pgsql-general

From frank joerdens
Subject How does TOAST compare to other databases' mechanisms?
Date
Msg-id 005701c02c98$0a3599f0$0164a8c0@joerdens.de
Whole thread Raw
List pgsql-general
If this question is answered in some FAQ, I'd be happy just for some
pointer. If not, what I'd like to know is this: Since I will be using
PostgreSQL (because it's the database I know best and because I like it ;))
for a content management type app where I need TOAST, I am wondering whether
this mechanism is actually something really advanced and neat (this is what
I'd assume) or if it is a not-so-elegant, rather involved construction to
get around a legacy limitation? To put it another way: Can I go around
bragging to my SQL-minded friends about using this really cool thing that no
other database has, or should I keep my mouth shut because it's actually not
so cool? How do the MySQL people do it (there's a pretty instructive
comparison of MySQL and PostgreSQL at
http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/tim20000705.php3 in the context of both
databases' suitability as a web site backend which mentions the 8k barrier
as one of the bigger minuses of PostgreSQL - it's a head-to-head race in
this comparison by the way, which makes it particularly interesting)? What's
Oracle's answer to oversized attributes (or other advanced DBMS's, like
Sybase, Informix et al)?

Thanks, Frank

--
                frank joerdens

joerdens new media              e: frank@joerdens.de
urbanstr. 116                   m: +49 (0)30 69597650
10967 berlin                    f: +49 (0)30 7864046
germany                         h: http://www.joerdens.de



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