Chapter 1
NoSQL: What It Is and Why You Need It
WHAT’S IN THIS CHAPTER?
- Defining NoSQL
- Setting context by explaining the history of NoSQL’s emergence
- Introducing the NoSQL variants
- Listing a few popular NoSQL products
Congratulations! You have made the first bold step to learn NoSQL.
Like most new and upcoming technologies, NoSQL is shrouded in a mist of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. The world of developers is probably divided into three groups when it comes to NoSQL:
- Those who love it — People in this group are exploring how NoSQL fits in an application stack. They are using it, creating it, and keeping abreast with the developments in the world of NoSQL.
- Those who deny it — Members of this group are either focusing on NoSQL’s shortcomings or are out to prove that it’s worthless.
- Those who ignore it — Developers in this group are agnostic either because they are waiting for the technology to mature, or they believe NoSQL is a passing fad and ignoring it will shield them from the rollercoaster ride of “a hype cycle,” or have simply not had a chance to get to it.
Gartner coined the term hype cycle to represent the maturity, adoption, and application of a technology. Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle.
I am a member of the first group. Writing a book on the subject is testimony enough to prove that I like the technology. Both the groups of NoSQL lovers and ...
