SQL Server: The 'Boring' Database That Saves Your Job While NoSQL Fans Debug Production Fires

A software engineer has shared their experience in choosing between relational and NoSQL databases for.NET and cloud systems, highlighting the importance of considering factors such as data shape, query patterns, and consistency. Relational databases like SQL Server and PostgreSQL are suitable for complex relationships, joins, and ACID guarantees, while NoSQL databases like MongoDB and DynamoDB are ideal for document-like data, flexible schema, and single-entity lookups. The engineer notes that SQL scales vertically, while NoSQL excels in horizontal scaling, but introduces operational complexity. Developer experience, cost, and vendor lock-in are also crucial considerations. The engineer advises starting with SQL unless there's a clear reason to use NoSQL, and to model queries and evolution over time before locking in a storage option. This approach is significant in the software engineering industry, where choosing the right database can impact system performance, scalability, and maintenance.