SQL Still Wins: Why I Reach for It Before NoSQL
January 26, 2025
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1 min read
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By Amey Lokare
🎯 The Default
For most projects, I start with PostgreSQL. Here's why SQL still wins.
✅ Why SQL
1. ACID Guarantees
Transactions, consistency, and data integrity. SQL databases handle this well. NoSQL often doesn't.
2. Powerful Queries
JOINs, aggregations, window functions. SQL is expressive and powerful. NoSQL queries are often limited.
3. Mature Ecosystem
PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite—they're battle-tested. Tools, libraries, and knowledge are everywhere.
4. Schema Enforcement
Schemas prevent bad data. NoSQL's flexibility often becomes a liability.
⚠️ When NoSQL Makes Sense
NoSQL is good for:
- Document storage (MongoDB)
- Time-series data (InfluxDB)
- Graph data (Neo4j)
- High write throughput (Cassandra)
But for most apps, SQL is better.
💡 My Decision Process
- Start with PostgreSQL
- Use JSON columns if you need flexibility
- Consider NoSQL only if you have a specific need
💭 My Take
SQL databases are mature, powerful, and reliable. NoSQL has its place, but SQL should be your default.
Don't choose NoSQL because it's trendy. Choose it because you have a real need.