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Why Oracle XE and not PostgreSQL? What advantages does Oracle XE have over it?

chasil 4y ago
EnterpriseDB sells a version of Postgres with deep Oracle compatibility, but this emulation is not included in the free version. Many years ago, IBM bundled this code into db2, and it remains jointly developed as far as I know. The EnterpriseDB sales page for this product would be a good start on what's missing. https://www.enterprisedb.com/why-edb/leave-oracle-for-postgresql-migration-postgres-move https://www.enterprisedb.com/why-edb/leave-oracle-for-postgr...
- marcosdumay 4y ago
  So you mean that the feature Oracle has that Postges is missing is Oracle compatibility (unless you install it from a 3rd party)? That page doesn't list features. It only shows you tools to help migrating.
  - chasil 4y ago
    There used to be PDF details there. Here is a synopsis, there is probably more. EDB Postgres Advanced Server is an enhanced version of PostgreSQL that offers compatibility with Oracle in the following areas: Oracle-specific and syntax-compatible database object types Oracle-specific data types Oracle-specific SQL extensions Oracle PL/SQL support as a built-in native procedural language Oracle data dictionary views (i.e., ALL_, DBA_, USER_ views) Oracle built in PL/SQL packages EDB Postgres Advanced Server doesn't fully implement all Oracle-specific features in these areas. Nevertheless, the compatibility is extensive and covers many of the most commonly used Oracle constructs. https://www.enterprisedb.com/docs/migrating/oracle/migration_techniques/ https://www.enterprisedb.com/docs/migrating/oracle/migration... (If you don't care for Oracle, don't use their database. However, SQL/PSM is the ISO PSM-96 standard; using this dialect will be maximally portable.)
- Beltalowda 4y ago
  Okay, but that wasn't really my question. You recommend Oracle XE; I never used Oracle DB so I'm wondering what technical reasons there are to choose Oracle over PostgreSQL? The general attitude towards Oracle tends to be quite negative on HN. Maybe for good reason, but I'd like to hear a different perspective and this seemed like a good opportunity.
  - chasil 4y ago
    Oracle XE will have the deepest SQL/PSM implementation of any freely-available database, without question. The list of standard functions, procedures and packages is enormous. This is a double-edged sword. If you use these (proprietary) features and you outgrow XE, then you have to buy a license. XE also doesn't get quarterly patches - it's updated every couple of years (hardening is essential). Oracle Enterprise retails for $47,500/CPU core. The stripped-down SE2 falls to about $18k. Definitely beware of the lock-in, but XE likely remains the best for procedural programming in SQL. For the extremely Oracle-averse, there still may be some value in running it alongside Postgres(with the SQL/PSM extension) and MySQL to verify that your code is portable.

EnterpriseDB sells a version of Postgres with deep Oracle compatibility, but this emulation is not included in the free version. Many years ago, IBM bundled this code into db2, and it remains jointly developed as far as I know. The EnterpriseDB sales page for this product would be a good start on what's missing. https://www.enterprisedb.com/why-edb/leave-oracle-for-postgresql-migration-postgres-move https://www.enterprisedb.com/why-edb/leave-oracle-for-postgr...

marcosdumay 4y ago
So you mean that the feature Oracle has that Postges is missing is Oracle compatibility (unless you install it from a 3rd party)? That page doesn't list features. It only shows you tools to help migrating.
- chasil 4y ago
  There used to be PDF details there. Here is a synopsis, there is probably more. EDB Postgres Advanced Server is an enhanced version of PostgreSQL that offers compatibility with Oracle in the following areas: Oracle-specific and syntax-compatible database object types Oracle-specific data types Oracle-specific SQL extensions Oracle PL/SQL support as a built-in native procedural language Oracle data dictionary views (i.e., ALL_, DBA_, USER_ views) Oracle built in PL/SQL packages EDB Postgres Advanced Server doesn't fully implement all Oracle-specific features in these areas. Nevertheless, the compatibility is extensive and covers many of the most commonly used Oracle constructs. https://www.enterprisedb.com/docs/migrating/oracle/migration_techniques/ https://www.enterprisedb.com/docs/migrating/oracle/migration... (If you don't care for Oracle, don't use their database. However, SQL/PSM is the ISO PSM-96 standard; using this dialect will be maximally portable.)
Beltalowda 4y ago
Okay, but that wasn't really my question. You recommend Oracle XE; I never used Oracle DB so I'm wondering what technical reasons there are to choose Oracle over PostgreSQL? The general attitude towards Oracle tends to be quite negative on HN. Maybe for good reason, but I'd like to hear a different perspective and this seemed like a good opportunity.
- chasil 4y ago
  Oracle XE will have the deepest SQL/PSM implementation of any freely-available database, without question. The list of standard functions, procedures and packages is enormous. This is a double-edged sword. If you use these (proprietary) features and you outgrow XE, then you have to buy a license. XE also doesn't get quarterly patches - it's updated every couple of years (hardening is essential). Oracle Enterprise retails for $47,500/CPU core. The stripped-down SE2 falls to about $18k. Definitely beware of the lock-in, but XE likely remains the best for procedural programming in SQL. For the extremely Oracle-averse, there still may be some value in running it alongside Postgres(with the SQL/PSM extension) and MySQL to verify that your code is portable.