What is an Open Source Database?

Yes, MongoDB is an open source database, originally released under the AGPL license. However, newer versions use the Server Side Public License (SSPL), which is source-available but not considered fully open source by some definitions.

Open source databases provide cost-effective, flexible, and customizable solutions without vendor lock-in. They also benefit from community support and continuous innovation, making them ideal for scalable and modern applications.

It depends on the use case—open source databases offer greater flexibility, lower costs, and community-driven improvements, while proprietary databases often provide dedicated support and enterprise features. Organizations should choose based on their performance, security, and support needs.

Yes, PostgreSQL is a fully open source database, released under the PostgreSQL License. It is maintained by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group and supported by a large community of contributors.

Yes, many open source databases are designed to handle big data workloads, offering features like distributed storage, data replication, and automatic load balancing.

NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Apache Cassandra, and Hadoop are commonly used for big data analytics and large-scale data processing.

Yes, open source databases can be highly secure when properly configured, often including data encryption, role-based access control, and audit logging. Regular security updates and an active community support system help identify and patch vulnerabilities.

Yes, many open source database systems are compatible with cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. Some databases, like MongoDB Atlas and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, offer managed cloud services that simplify deployment and scaling.

While open source databases offer flexibility and cost savings, they may require more manual configuration, self-hosted support, and system resources for maintenance. Some advanced enterprise features, such as real-time analytics and automatic scaling, may require additional setup or third-party tools.