Ask HN: Why use MongoDB over a denormalized structure in a relational DB?

2 points by gasping 11y ago ↗ HN

I'm trying to understand why anyone would use MongoDB. MongoDB sells itself as being faster than the competition by virtue of the denormalized data structures it encourages (no joins!).

Does an RDBMS not also provide this functionality? Why not just create a table in PostgreSQL with a single JSON field? This is essentially the same as MongoDB but with myriad additional benefits. You now have a "get out of jail free card" when you realize you actually needed relationships and ACID. With a "one field to rule them all" RDBMS structure you can start pulling out fields from your JSON goop into meaningful structured relations when you outgrow the document-oriented nature of MongoDB.

What is the appeal of MongoDB when an RDBMS can do everything better and more reliably?

3 comments

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stephenr 11y ago ↗

You're forgetting http://youtube.com/watch?v=HdnDXsqiPYo

gasping 11y ago ↗

I've seen that video and cried bitter tears. I just don't know who's at the wheel web development right now. With all the garbage being pedaled out over the past few years, especially Javascript stuff and reinvention-of-the-wheel technologies like MongoDB, I'm seriously thinking of leaving the industry. It's a tough choice because I've got a pretty decent mortage to pay off but I just feel like the industry is being taken over by teenagers with no real world experience or street knowledge.

Just as in politics the craziest voices are always the loudest, and usually don't represent a majority of the population.