Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!nsc!pyramid!infmx!randall From: randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Informix, or Oracle... That is the question. **HELP** Keywords: Informix Oracle Help Message-ID: <1990Nov8.023758.28163@informix.com> Date: 8 Nov 90 02:37:58 GMT References: <1990Nov7.085324.12653@rbdc> Sender: news@informix.com (Usenet News) Organization: Informix Software, Inc. Lines: 172 I wrote this article before I began working for Informix, but I suppose it still has bias. Anyway, if you talk to people who have used both products, you will get a lot of agreement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFORMIX / ORACLE COMPARISON SUMMARY October, 1990 The following is a summary comparison of two RDBMS products, ORACLE and INFORMIX. DATABASE ENGINES ---------------- ORACLE's database engine works similar to INFORMIX-TURBO. (now called INFORMIX-ONLINE) Both engines essentially function as their own operating systems, with their own backup utilities. The engines can be tuned for optimum performance. These engines are complex, and require a certain level of expertise to maintain. ORACLE is especially complicated. INFORMIX-ONLINE supports BLOBs (Binary Large Data Objects). This allows for the storage of images, such as photographs. ORACLE does not support this. INFORMIX also offers an engine that works within the operating system. (UNIX or DOS) This engine is slower, but easier to maintain and operate. The Standard Engine ("SE") is a good choice for applications that must run with little or no maintenance. ORACLE works with IBM, VMS, UNIX, and DOS. INFORMIX supports only UNIX and DOS. However, ORACLE works on so many platforms that support for them becomes very difficult, and new products are slow to be released. (One of ORACLE's new tools, SQL*Forms Version 3.0, is two years behind schedule.) ORACLE Version 6 does not work with the VAX cluster. This is also about two years behind schedule. ORACLE's claims about being a "distributed database" should be viewed with severe reservations. ORACLE requires much more memory and CPU. It does not run well on small platforms. INFORMIX-SE runs quite well on small UNIX boxes like Altos. STANDARD QUERY LANGUAGE (SQL) ------------------------------ ORACLE's version of ANSI-standard SQL is superior to that of INFORMIX. It contains more functions and more feature extensions, such as field concatenation and good handling of NULLs. ORACLE's SQL*Plus utility is their best tool. INFORMIX-SQL allows for the renaming and dropping of columns, which ORACLE does not. This makes maintaining the database much easier. INFORMIX-SQL allows the database administrator to look up column names, indexes, and table permissions easily. The ORACLE administrator must write his own SQL programs to find this information. FORM GENERATION --------------- ORACLE's SQL*Forms contains more features than INFORMIX' form generator, PERFORM. SQL*Forms Version 3 has pop-up windows and a built-in programming language. However, neither product should be used for anything but simple applications. ORACLE's SQL*Forms user interface is more difficult to use. Data entry operators must be familiar with RDBMS concepts like "COMMIT" and "ROLLBACK", and must memorize dozens of function key combinations. Bad transactions can easily be added to the database. INFORMIX uses a very simple menu which makes PERFORM much easier to use. ORACLE SQL*Forms requires huge amounts of memory. INFORMIX runs well on small platforms. C functions can be added to either forms product with the use of Pro*C (ORACLE) or ESQL/C. (INFORMIX) FOURTH-GENERATION LANGUAGES --------------------------- INFORMIX-4GL is a full-featured programming language that can be used for data entry applications, query programs, or reports. It is so powerful that third-generation languages like C are rarely needed. 4GL programs can be run in compiled or interpreted mode. The interpreter is called INFORMIX-4GL-RDS. ORACLE does not offer a programming language, other than 3GLs such as C or COBOL. This is the most severe weakness of their product. ORACLE users are forced to write applications in C, at greater time and expense. Applications written in C are often very difficult to maintain or support. ORACLE's PL/SQL is not a full programming language and cannot be used to build applications. (It lacks any output formatting statements.) Almost all successful ORACLE sites have written their applications primarily in C, or have relied very heavily on C. INFORMIX' 4GL DEBUGGER is a very powerful tool. It is especially useful for supporting applications written by someone else. One of the biggest problems with maintaining a SQL*Forms application is the lack of a good ORACLE debugger. REPORT WRITERS -------------- ORACLE's report writers are horrible. Their new SQL*ReportWriter lacks some fundamental features, like a conditional (IF-THEN) statement. Oracle Corporation doesn't even use it internally. Their ten-year-old SQL*Report is still used, but its usage is archaic. (dot commands) INFORMIX-4GL can be used to write any report that can be written using a language like COBOL. INFORMIX also offers a report writer called ACE, which requires programming, and a report writer called QUICK STEP, which does not. WORKING WITH THE COMPANIES -------------------------- Both Oracle Corporation and Informix Software have been criticized for selling things they don't have, announcing products before they are ready, and the usual other software company gripes. In recent periodicals, Oracle has been especially attacked for a "growth at all costs" strategy. Overall, recent periodical articles have been favorable to Informix (especially the new WINGZ spreadsheet) and negative toward Oracle. As of October 1990, Oracle is losing money, is laying off employees, and is going through major re-structuring. Informix is still earning a profit and has not gone through layoffs in a long time. I have heard more complaints about dealing with Oracle as a vendor than about any other company in any other business. OVERALL CONCLUSIONS ------------------- The ORACLE database engine works, provided that you don't want a distributed database. Both INFORMIX engines, ONLINE and SE, are good. SE is especially good for sites that don't have a lot of in-house database expertise, as it is easy to maintain. INFORMIX' version of SQL is weak, but INFORMIX-4GL can make up for it. ORACLE has severe difficulties with bugs in new products. It takes them a great deal of time to roll out new products because they run on so many platforms. ORACLE receives a large amount of revenue from consulting. This is due in no small part to the fact that their products are difficult to use. ORACLE customers almost always need help. INFORMIX' tools are far superior for building practical applications. They are not perfect, and some useful features are missing, but you can get the job done. -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Randall Rhea Informix Software, Inc. Senior Programmer/Analyst, MIS uunet!pyramid!infmx!randall