Depending on your needs you can go halfway with sqlite and the json extension as well. In general I start with sql and then when it becomes clear I need to I'll

Depending on your needs you can go halfway with sqlite and the json extension as well. In general I start with sql and then when it becomes clear I need to I'll use a NoSQL to optimize or improve some portion of the application. I find that sql is usually the right default and you'll go quite a ways before you outgrow it. If you do reach the point where you are outgrowing it then your needs are going to make the correct NoSQL solution pretty obvious.