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Database Software & Management Systems

What is database software?

The notion of database software encompasses a wide range of programs. The purpose of database software is to create and manage databases as well as to safely store, easily manipulate, retrieve, and process the data contained within. If we talk enterprise use, we can add a layer of more complex tasks, for example, integration with corporate ecosystems, seamless collaboration, security management, data analysis and reporting.

Do not confuse database software with database management systems (DBMS), though. To avoid long definitions, let's say that the latter is an intermediary between databases and client database programs, through which end users are able to manipulate data.

What is database software used for?

Database software includes tools that allow users to work with data and databases, which in turn are essential to complex business solutions. The use of database software encompasses a variety of tasks:

Database design

Database design

User-friendly tools help create new databases by visualizing their structures via diagrams that show logical relations between tables that store data. All this makes database design exceptionally fast and convenient.

Database development

Database development

After design comes implementation. Database software can drastically speed up routine SQL coding by up to 4 times with tools such as context-sensitive code autocompletion, smart formatting, refactoring, and debugging.

Database administration

Database administration

Administration features help users ensure a stable environment and guarantee fast troubleshooting. Related tasks include backup and recovery, maintenance, account and permission management, and performance monitoring.

Data analysis and reporting

Data analysis & reporting

Using database software, you can perform data analysis and get comprehensive data reports. For example, SQL databases allow creating dynamic pivot tables that aggregate data for subsequent analysis and exploration of trends.

The benefits of database software

The benefits of database software

Database software removes numerous obstacles and bottlenecks typically associated with regular development, administration, and maintenance of databases. It is hard to overestimate the benefits it delivers.

  • Streamlined database development and administration processes
  • Easy maintenance of multiple, large, and complex databases
  • Easy handling of data duplication
  • Improved data consistency
  • Multi-user environment and simplified data sharing
  • Enhanced data security, which is especially relevant for sensitive data

Types of databases

Different types of databases emerged from different approaches to storing and manipulating data. Here are the most widespread database types that you are likely to encounter.

Relational databases

Relational databases

The relational database model—arguably the most popular one—organizes and stores data in tables ("relations") of columns and rows, where each table field represents a data value, and there is a unique key identifying each row. Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to perform all operations with data.

Object-oriented databases

Object-oriented databases

In object-oriented databases, data is represented in the form of objects. This makes them different than, for example, relational databases, which are table-oriented. Most object databases utilize query languages to manipulate objects.

Hierarchical databases

Hierarchical databases

Hierarchical databases utilize the tree data structure, storing data in a parent/child relationship mode, where each field contains one value. It is a rather simple yet very inflexible model owing to its straightforward one-to-many relationship.

NoSQL databases

NoSQL databases

NoSQL databases do not use SQL for data access and have no predefined database schemas. NoSQL data storage delivers faster mechanisms of data search and storage, which makes it potentially suitable for applications with rapidly changing development environments.

Network databases

Network databases

A network database uses a network to create relationships between multiple entities. Basically, it is a type of a hierarchical database, with the primary difference being many-to-many relationships between nodes.

Types of database management systems

We have previously mentioned database management systems (DBMS), and now is the time to tell you more about them. We believe there are at least four major database management systems that are worth singling out, and they all belong to the same relational database model. These are Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL. Let's overview them briefly.

  • MySQL & MariaDB
  • Azure SQL
  • Oracle
  • PostgreSQL

SQL Server

The most popular commercial DBMS that offers broad compatibility with Windows services. It perfectly deals with large recurring traffic workloads and delivers an infrastructure that has plenty of auxiliary services.

SQL Server

MySQL & MariaDB

The leader among open-source solutions with ever-growing popularity. Although its core functionality is available free of charge, you can have additional paid tools provided by Oracle.

MySQL & MariaDB

Azure SQL

Azure SQL is a highly scalable platform-as-a-service developed and delivered by Microsoft. It is based on SQL Server and allows storing relational data in the cloud.

Sql azure

Oracle

Oracle DBMS is noted for its complexity, difficult management, and high costs of Oracle products. However, it offers high portability and backward compatibility, easy recovery, multiple database support, and high performance.

Oracle

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a proven open-source DBMS that offers rich functionality, support for a variety of data types, and storage of schemaless data.

PostgreSQL

For each of these systems, there are database software programs, which facilitate easy development and administration of databases for business applications. If you need examples, look no further - Devart develops and delivers programs that rank among top database software. The dbForge product line covers the abovementioned systems.

With its simple and intuitive interface, dbForge database software is easy to use, regardless of whether the user is experienced or not. From full-fledged database IDEs to smart SSMS add-ins and test data generators, dbForge works to empower the user, make them more productive, and automate their routine operations.

Choosing database software

Your choice of database software should be first and foremost based on your actual goals, needs, functional requirements, and budget constraints.

Choosing database software

If you need database software for home use...

In this case, we suppose you know the tasks you are going to accomplish and the features you need to do that. Regardless of the database management system you are using, you need to write down these tasks and features and prioritize them. Naturally, free database tools will be considered first, because their capabilities may turn out to be quite sufficient for your tasks. And if your tasks go beyond their capabilities, you always have the option to download free trial versions of paid tools and give them a try.

dbForge Studio for SQL Server
dbForge Studio for MySQL
dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL
dbForge Studio for Oracle

If you need database software for business...

When it comes to business use—for example, if you are looking for a solution to equip your database team with—the stakes grow. You need stable, reliable tools, compatible with your corporate ecosystem. You need to focus on your corporate standards and enable effective teamwork. In this case, free software might be inappropriate, because most of these qualities can be found in advanced, paid software solutions. Your database team will help you list and prioritize the required features, and even suggest a few tools that deliver these features.

Enterprise-level database tools
Choosing database software

What are the tasks that your database software must help you solve?

  • Database development
  • Testing
  • Data Loading
  • Analysis
  • Maintenance
Database design

Database design

Database design tools help create tables in a visual editor and draw entire database structures on entity-relationship diagrams. You will find them in database IDEs that also comprise tools for subsequent development and testing (e.g. dbForge Studio, which is available for SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL).

Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
Coming soon
Database development

Database development

  • Coding assistance and refactoring to accelerate your SQL coding and improve your performance (available in dbForge Studios and dbForge SQL Complete, an add-in for SSMS)
  • Safe comparison and deployment of schema changes in different environments (available in dbForge Schema Compare for SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL)
  • Database version control in multiple source control systems (available in dbForge Source Control, an add-in for SSMS)
  • Debugging of stored routines (available in dbForge Studios)
  • Generation of full database documentation (available in dbForge Documenter for SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle)
Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
SQL Tools
Compare Bundle
Compare Bundle
Schema Compare
Schema Compare
Schema Compare
Documenter
Documenter
Database testing

Testing

  • Generation of realistic data for testing (available in dbForge Data Generator for SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle)
  • Database unit testing (available in dbForge Unit Test for SQL Server)
  • Query profiling (available in dbForge Studios)
Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
SQL Tools
Data Generator
Data Generator
Data loading

Data loading

  • Import and export of data to 10+ file formats (available in dbForge Data Pump for SQL Server)
  • Visual data editor (available in dbForge Studios)
  • Comparison, synchronization, and reporting of table data differences (available in dbForge Data Compare for SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL)
Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
SQL Tools
Compare Bundle
Compare Bundle
Data Compare
Data Compare
Data Compare
Data analysis

Analysis

  • Visual design of complex queries without coding (available in dbForge Query Builder for SQL Server and MySQL)
  • Master-detail data browsing, aggregation of data in visual pivot tables, and generation of data reports (available in dbForge Studios)
Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
SQL Tools
Query Builder
Database maintenance

Maintenance

  • Monitoring and analysis of transaction log data, as well as rollback of unwanted transactions (available in dbForge Transaction Log for SQL Server)
  • Monitoring of server performance and elimination of performance bottlenecks (available in dbForge Monitor for SQL Server)
  • Detection, analysis, and elimination of index fragmentation (available in dbForge Index Manager for SQL Server)
Available in
dbForge Studio
dbForge Studio
Not available
Not available
SQL Tools
Transaction Log

Web-based, desktop, or server database software?

Desktop database software

Desktop database software

Database software programs for desktops are simple and cheap, run on a single machine (which means they are not scalable), and may have rather limited storage and functionality. They can be suitable for basic applications that do not presuppose high load and active growth.

Server database software

Server database software

Server database software can operate with huge amounts of data and has the richest capabilities that can be offered for enterprise-grade solutions. It is expensive, yet delivers versatile architecture, high performance, reliability, scalability, and plenty of other virtues.

Web-based database software

Web-based database software

Web-based database software helps build simple applications without coding, and is not suitable for business use. Web-based database systems require online access and often involve a supporting desktop application for macOS, Linux, or, most frequently, Windows.

Free or paid database software?

Without a doubt, everyone would rather choose not to pay. Yet you should take note that free database software typically has limited functionality. In light of this, we suggest you do the following:

  • Pick several free database tools that you find suitable for your needs.
  • Compare your prioritized list of tasks with the features and capabilities of these tools.
  • If you can pick one that is going to work for you perfectly, that's good. And if your requirements exceed their capabilities, you will have to consider a paid tool.

Free database tools by Devart

Devart offers a number of free database tools that can easily handle basic tasks and are typically sufficient for beginners and non-profit organizations. These are the Express editions of the major dbForge products (e.g. dbForge Studios and SQL Complete) and several other tools exclusively distributed free of charge.

Free database tools
dbForge Studio for MySQL (Express)
dbForge Studio for SQL Server (Express)
dbForge Studio for Oracle (Express)
dbForge SQL Complete (Express)
dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL (Express)
dbForge Search
dbForge Schema Compare for PostgreSQL
dbForge Monitor

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