Two of the major database platforms available are MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server, both of which have different roots and were developed with different audiences in mind.

Countless sites on the Internet depend on databases. Giant sites like Google and Yahoo! use them to store information like URLs, user preferences and information, and so much more. Even small blog sites use databases to store information like posts and comments. Databases are critical to many of the sites you know and use daily.

If you intend to have any type of complex features on your site, you’ll need a database of some sort to store and manage the information. However, not all databases are created equal. Choosing a database platform to use for your company can be a major decision. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a database system and the decision can often be overwhelming.

There are many types of databases made by different companies and organizations that have their own specific purposes and are targeted at different markets. Two of the major database platforms available are MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server, both of which have different roots and were developed with different audiences in mind.

Background – MySQL:
MySQL is an open source project that has been around for quite a while. Though MySQL is cross-platform compatible (meaning it can run on both Windows and Linux operating systems), it seems that MySQL is generally used on a Linux platform such as Red Hat Linux or CentOS. MySQL started as a relatively small software project, but has now matured from what some would consider a “hobby project” to a top of the line, enterprise level and commercially supported database platform.

Background – SQL Server:
SQL Server is the database platform that has been developed and distributed by Microsoft. Some would consider SQL Server a more “mature” platform since it has also been around quite a while, has had a lot of money invested in it, and is backed by a gigantic company. Microsoft has made a huge bet on SQL Server (a lot of Microsoft’s products depend on SQL Server to function, some Microsoft products have almost been built around SQL Server, and many Microsoft customers depend on SQL Server) and has continued to actively develop it since its inception.

Ask the Expert:
So that I could learn more about MySQL and SQL Server, I spoke with John Engates, the Chief Technology Officer at Rackspace, one of the world’s largest managed hosting companies. Engates said he’s “probably the most down the middle guy” when it comes to Linux and Windows and he had a lot of knowledge and insight to share, which has been used to write this article.

Two Different Backgrounds:
MySQL and SQL Server couldn’t come from more different backgrounds. MySQL was and is still very much an open source project that was developed for small businesses and applications, while SQL Server is and likely will remain for the foreseeable future a closed source project that was developed for large companies and enterprise level applications.

However, as both database products continue development, they are approaching a middle-ground. While Microsoft is still focusing on the large business and enterprise level applications, SQL Server has clearly attempted to enter the small business market with the launch of new editions targeted at smaller customers. On the other hand, MySQL is developing additional features to make it more efficient as an enterprise level application suitable for Fortune 500 companies.