Couchbase delivers superior data consistency, performance, and development tool support compared to Apache CouchDB
Difference 1:
Ensure data consistency
Support for distributed ACID transactions
Couchbase
Couchbase is an ACID database, built to deliver consistent data to everyone working with it. The solution is built from the ground up to operate on a cluster of nodes. Writes are made to an active node and immediately replicated to its peers to complete distributed ACID transactions. Read your own writes are made to the original server so data remains consistent in that context. Couchbase Server replicates data at the document level as well as across nodes and automatically stores document replicas on separate servers to eliminate single points of failure.
Apache CouchDB
Each CouchDB server operates as an individual node and each server contains a full copy of the data, to ensure both availability and fault tolerance. Those replicas can be problematic when application servers read from and write to any different CouchDB servers found on the network. The result? Different CouchDB instances carry different information that must be reconciled by a master copy. It’s a slow process that introduces points of failure: unexpected errors or changes at the master can corrupt the whole system.
Difference 2:
Streamline performance with superior query capabilities
Deliver superior query capabilities
Couchbase
A Couchbase strength is its support for a wide range of query functions. Its REST API provides three ways to query: N1QL, a SQL-like query language for JSON; Views, including multi-dimensional querying, similar to CouchDB views; and Key-value lookups, which do not require the creation of any additional indexes. Further, Couchbase includes multidimensional scaling of its services including: Query, Index, Full Text Search, Analytics and Eventing.
Apache CouchDB
CouchDB functions as a pure document store. As a result, developers often find the database system is difficult to query. They must instead retrieve data through a system of views, which can be cumbersome. Also, they can only pull out a full document using its key.
Difference 3:
Support for your favorite development tools
Work with a wide range of development tools
Couchbase
Couchbase Server has an open source design that supports a robust and flexible development environment with services that can scale multi-dimensionally. It is written in popular languages, like C, C++, and Go and includes connectors and SDKs to popular solutions. Individual and community-supported SDKs are available.
Apache CouchDB
CouchDB is an open source project. The solution was written in Erlang, which is a rigid environment, one that runs on top of the OTP framework. Its connectors are not available as a core project. Their SDKs and integrations are available via a REST interface.
Feature set: CouchDB vs. Couchbase
Developer agility
| Couchbase Server | Apache CouchDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Data models | JSON document, Key-value | JSON document |
| Consistency | Strong, including distributed ACID transactions | Eventual |
| Replication | Master-Master | Master-Master by default with optional clustering for quorum writes and reads |
| Locking | Optimistic and pessimistic | Optimistic with modified MVCC |
| Query language | Yes, N1QL (SQL for JSON) | Yes, using a limited find API derived from MongoDB™ |
| Secondary Indexes | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications |
Yes, Database Change Protocol |
Yes, Changes feeds |
| Services | Data, Query, Index, Full Text Search, Analytics, Eventing | Data, Query & Index |
Performance at scale
| Couchbase Server | Apache CouchDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage (performance) | Append-only B-Tree | Append-only B-Tree |
| Integrated cache (performance) | Yes | No |
| Managed cache (performance) | Yes | No |
|
Memcached compatible (performance) |
Yes | No |
|
MapReduce (views) (performance) |
Yes | Yes |
Manage with ease
| Couchbase Server | Apache CouchDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic failover (management) | Yes | Not by default; can be configured for quorum reads |
|
Cross datacenter replication (management) |
Yes | Yes |
For more on Couchbase architecture, download the whitepaper.
