For several years I have been wondering if something like what is described in this article will happen. Why do big relational databases have such a tight grip on business software architecture?

One of the most dramatic changes in the enterprise software market is coming to a database near you. This revolution heralds a shift to a mix of options that include open source databases, in-memory databases, and turnkey database/hardware bundles, among others.

Another thing not mentioned in the article is the rise in popularity of "in-process" databases: Oracle buying Sleepy Cat, Microsoft's SQL Everywhere, etc. I think there is a big gap for things like this - when you still need something like reporting but don't need a huge database with it's installation and licensing hassles.

Source: The Coming Database Revolution
Originally published on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 11:43:07 GMT