WHY use anything other than an XML backend?

[John Layman]

It seems to me the advantages of using a DBMS lie in the ability to handle a
huge data store efficiently, to access the data using standard tools, and
the potential for evolving GnuCash in a multi-user direction.  But there is
much to be said for the benefits of an in-memory data store.  Instant saving
is not an unqualified advantage.  It would be interesting to know how
frequently users resort to the close-without-saving feature using XML.  If I
am at all typical, that is a 'feature', not a weakness.

There is little significance in what the backend might be unless the data
design is normalized and referential integrity is enforced.  Just stuffing
the current data design into a DBMS really only solves the data volume
problem.  I do think that it is unrealistic to expect the data store to grow
ad infiinitum, regardless of where the data are stashed.  A purge/archive
function of some sort is still very much needed.  This is something
Microsoft Money did remarkably well.  It could remove transactions older
than a specified date, while preserving those older transactions (and their
possibly closed accounts) that connected in some way to on-going information
requirements such as investments and mortgages.

-----Original Message-----
From: gnucash-user-bounces+john.layman=laymanandlayman.com at gnucash.org
[mailto:gnucash-user-bounces+john.layman=laymanandlayman.com at gnucash.org] On
Behalf Of Geert Janssens
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 4:13 PM
To: gnucash-user at gnucash.org
Subject: Re: WHY use anything other than an XML backend?

On dinsdag 19 april 2011, gbguy wrote:
> John,
> Thanks for the info.  As I said before, not all the GnuCash users are 
> developers, so keep them in mind when you make your announcements.
> 
> Later today I'm going to make an entry in the FAQs about the use of 
> XML and SQL.  You can change it if you don't agree with what I said.
> 
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Another advantage of the sql backend is that it saves instantly, so you have
less risk of data loss (except for the issues with online banking John
mentioned).

As far as I remember, that was the primary motivation to introduce an sql
based backend in the first place. The tech is still fairly new in GnuCash
though and should probably still mature some.

Geert
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