Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!voder!pyramid!unify!mef From: mef@Unify.Com (Marvin Fenner (att)) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Informix, or Oracle... That is the question. **HELP** Keywords: Informix Oracle Help Message-ID: Date: 9 Nov 90 20:48:05 GMT References: <1990Nov7.085324.12653@rbdc> <1990Nov8.023758.28163@informix.com> Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA Lines: 178 In article <1990Nov8.023758.28163@informix.com> randall@informix.com (Randall Rhea) writes: >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 Gee, my research has shown that Unify's entire product line is far better than any other software in the known universe. But then, I performed my analysis while still employed by Unify ;-).