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Synergy DBMS, a component of the Synergy/DE suite of application development tools, is a data access technology similar to NoSQL. Synergy DBMS’s ISAM file format uses an index-based access method that maintains high-speed performance even as files grow larger.
A relational database management system (RDBMS) is a data access technology that manages relational data stored in a structured format using rows and columns. Some of the most common RDBMSs are Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL.
Although Synergy DBMS and RDBMSs have unique performance characteristics and database models, each works exceptionally well in its designed role. With Synergy/DE, you can include both technologies in your solutions. The table below summarizes the differences between Synergy DBMS and an RDBMS.
| RDBMS | Synergy DBMS | |
| Database description | A collection of data items organized in a tabular format to recognize relations among stored items. | Similar to a NoSQL database; a collection of flat indexed files managed at the application level with optional relational access to the data (via ODBC). |
| Performance | Designed to perform well when retrieving entire tables and on complex, ad-hoc queries and business intelligence. May perform less well with a large number of update operations. | Designed to perform well when processing individual operations from many users simultaneously and when accessing random data. |
| Reliability | Supports transaction-oriented updates, which can ensure the highest level of data integrity if implemented. | Enables developers to incorporate reliability in their code that meets their data integrity requirements. Does not support transaction-oriented updates. |
| Security | While database security is usually programmed at the application level, allows applications to apply specific access privileges to individual tables, rows, and/or columns. | Enables developers to implement application-level security to meet their specific requirements. |
| Reporting tool | Supports highly functional reporting tools and business intelligence. | Supports highly functional reporting tools in conjunction with ODBC support (for example, Power BI and SQL Server). |
| Interoperability | Supports interoperability with ODBC, .NET, and more. | Supports interoperability with ODBC, .NET, and more. |
| Availability | Supports backups while the application is in use through database-specific backup agents. Also supports replication. | Supports backups while the application is in use when used in conjunction with a plug-in to freeze and flush file system I/O. (May require application updates to implement.) |
| System resource requirements | Typically requires more system resources than Synergy DBMS. | Typically requires fewer system resources for most operations than RDBMS. |