ACID vs. BASE: A Deep Dive into Data Consistency Models for RDBMS/NoSQL Selection
Selecting a database is like designing the foundation of a structure. A structure constructed on a defective foundation will ultimately collapse, and also, a database chosen without a deep understanding of data consistency models will inescapably beget disastrous failures as a service scales. In this post, I’ll give a deep-dive analysis of the two opposing worlds—ACID and BASE—grounded on the trials, crimes, and architectural dilemmas I’ve faced throughout my career. Table of Contents 1. Introduction: The Perpetual Dilemma of Consistency 2. ACID: The Perfectionist Heart of RDBMS 3. BASE: The Flexible Soul of NoSQL 4. The CAP Theorem & PACELC: The Laws We Cannot Break 5. Personal Narrative: When I Switched from RDBMS to NoSQL (and Why) 6. The Ultimate Selection Strategy: Choosing for Your Business 7. Conclusion: Toward Polyglot Persistence 1. Introduction: The Perpetual Dilemma of Consistency As a developer, what’s the utmost spine-nipping moment you can imagine? For me, it’s enteri...