RavenDB vs SQLite: What are the differences?
# Introduction
1. **Storage Mechanism**: RavenDB is a document database that stores data in JSON format, making it suitable for handling complex data structures, while SQLite is a lightweight, serverless, and self-contained database engine that stores data in a single disk file.
2. **ACID Compliance**: RavenDB fully supports ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties ensuring data integrity, while SQLite also supports ACID properties but requires manual implementation for transactions and other features to achieve full compliance.
3. **Scalability**: RavenDB is designed for distributed environments, providing built-in partitioning and replication capabilities for horizontal scalability, whereas SQLite is suitable for small to medium-scale applications due to its single-file nature, limiting its scalability options.
4. **Query Language**: RavenDB uses LINQ (Language Integrated Query) for querying databases, allowing developers to work with data using familiar C# syntax, whereas SQLite uses SQL (Structured Query Language) for database operations, providing powerful querying capabilities but may require a learning curve for developers not familiar with SQL syntax.
5. **Concurrency Control**: In RavenDB, optimistic concurrency control is used by default, allowing multiple users to read and write data simultaneously without locking entire documents, while SQLite uses pessimistic concurrency control, where write operations lock the database, potentially leading to performance issues in high-concurrency scenarios.
6. **Platform Support**: RavenDB is primarily designed for .NET platforms and provides extensive support for various .NET technologies, while SQLite is a cross-platform database that can be used in a wide range of programming languages and platforms beyond just .NET.
In Summary, RavenDB and SQLite differ in their storage mechanism, ACID compliance, scalability, query language, concurrency control, and platform support. Each database has its strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of applications and environments.
