Microsoft sends new database platform into the open source race

Microsoft has unveiled a new platform for document databases built on the relational database system PostgreSQL. This platform is completely free to use and is part of an open-source initiative.

A New Era with Documentdb

The popularity of document databases, which rely less on rigid database schemas, has surged in recent years. Early innovators like MongoDB championed these technologies as better suited for handling semi-structured data, often found in web-based applications. Microsoft is now joining this movement with Documentdb, an entirely open platform.

According to a blog post by Product Manager Abinav Ramesh, Documentdb has no commercial license fees, no usage restrictions, and doesn’t require users to contribute back to the project. Thanks to its co-license, developers are free to modify, fork, and distribute the software however they see fit.

As part of this platform, Microsoft has created two PostgreSQL extensions specifically optimized for document databases:

• PG_Documentdb_core: Optimizes PostgreSQL for BSON (Binary JSON), a compact format for storing JSON documents.
• PG_Documentdb_api: Provides functionality for CRUD operations, queries, and index management.

Microsoft also recommends the open-source solution FerretDB for accessing this platform. FerretDB is a document-oriented database protocol widely recognized in both the PostgreSQL and NoSQL communities.

Innovations in Collaboration

FerretDB 2.0 has significantly enhanced integration with Microsoft’s new technology. Peter Farkas, co-founder and CEO of FerretDB, stated that using the PostgreSQL extension delivers “up to 20x performance improvements for certain workloads.” The introduction of the BSON data type and optimized query operations allows for more efficient data storage and processing.

Microsoft’s entry into the document database space presents a fresh challenge to established players like MongoDB. While MongoDB benefits from a large user base, Microsoft’s open-source approach could appeal to developers embarking on new projects.

With its innovative features and open model, Documentdb could become a game-changer in the world of document databases, offering developers greater freedom, performance, and flexibility.