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NoSQL for mere mortals
Sullivan D., Addison-Wesley Professional, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2015. 552 pp. Type: Book (978-0-134023-21-2)
Date Reviewed: Sep 29 2015

NoSQL is one of the emerging big data technologies. Since the term “NoSQL” is only slightly less ambiguous than the term “big data,” a few words of explanation are in order. Structured query language (SQL) is the standard query language for relational databases. In a relational database, the data is organized into tables; SQL queries are written to extract, summarize, or derive information from those tables. Unfortunately, relational databases don’t work well with big data for two primary reasons: big data does not map easily into tables, and processing limitations (specifically, transaction models) in relational databases hinder their performance and make them inadequate for the huge volume of data in big data applications. In response to these deficiencies, a variety of alternative databases have arisen that allow more flexible data structures and provide more suitable performance. NoSQL has become an umbrella term for these new database technologies, and it is often said to stand for either “no SQL” or “not only SQL.” The author of this book offers yet another variation: “not just SQL.” I had not previously heard of this variation. But in a world of buzzwords and acronyms, the only arbiter is time.

After providing justification for the existence of NoSQL databases, the author proceeds to explore four examples of NoSQL databases: key-value, document, column family, and graph databases. In each case, the author provides some introductory background, a discussion of terminology, and design considerations. Finally, as a wrap up to the book, there is a section on selecting a NoSQL database.

Prior to this book coming out, if someone wanted to learn about NoSQL, they would have to pick a specific implementation such as Cassandra or MongoDB and learn the mechanics of using that product. Some of what they learned would be transferable to other products. Much of it would not. For those who have been around since the pre-relational database days of IMS, IDMS, and System 2000, this situation probably sounds very familiar. Over time, as they began to see similarities in these implementations, their ideas would begin to coalesce into the material that makes up this book.

This book, according to the author, “is designed for anyone interested in learning how to use NoSQL databases.” I agree with this assessment, but with some clarifications. Nontechnical readers seeking to understand what NoSQL is all about will find this book to be exactly what they are looking for. The technical person will find it to be a good starting point. However, they will eventually have to continue their investigation with more in-depth treatments of specific products, such as those mentioned above. They will then have to continue further with some hands-on exposure. There is simply not enough theory, currently, regarding NoSQL databases for the technical person to learn what they need without more in-depth technical information and hands-on exposure. Similarly, this book could serve as a textbook in a course on NoSQL as long as it is augmented with more in-depth technical materials and hands-on exposure. All this is not to take away from the book. It is a wonderful book--carefully thought out, well written, and very readable. It just takes awhile for books and theory to catch up with emerging technologies such as NoSQL.

More reviews about this item: Amazon, IProgrammer

Reviewer:  J. M. Artz Review #: CR143804 (1512-1014)
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