Wide Rows NoSQL vs SQL Data Modeling

Some NoSQL databases popularized the notion of “loose schema”, often misunderstood as “schemaless” – but there is always a data model, in the DB, the application or the mind of the developer.

However, NoSQL schemas are designed with very different goals in mind than SQL schemas: where SQL normalizes, NoSQL denormalizes; Where SQL joins ad-hoc, NoSQL pre-joins; where SQL tries to push performance to the runtime, NoSQL bakes performance into the schema. Adding to the confusion, various NoSQL databases have different ideas on what schemas should enforce. This talk aims to introduce the core concepts of NoSQL schema design, using Scylla as an example explaining tradeoffs and rationale.

Speaker: Tzach Livyatan – Scylla