Re: Perl and Database

[dan.]

If you're completely new to databases, then you'll definitely benefit from having a go with SQLite.

It's extremely easy to install and use (you can be up and running inside a couple of minutes). Although it doesn't support all the fancy features of other databases, it covers everything you need to get going. Once you decide you want to play with the shiny features, it'll be pretty easy to migrate, and your knowledge won't be wasted (it's a really handy tool to know ;))

Beyond that, well, it depends what you want to do. PostgreSQL has evolved into an absolutely brilliant "enterprise-quality" database, and there's a wealth of documentation and an active community.

In my opinion, MySQL is kinda going downhill a little nowadays (its particular niche is being squeezed by SQLite and Postgres), and who knows what Oracle are going to do with it. That said, there's plenty of people out there using it.

I'm no expert on commercial databases, all I can really tell you is that Oracle can be rather complicated, but there's plenty of work out there for a good Oracle DBA.

If you do nothing else, dedicate an hour to playing with SQLite.