in this post Stack Overflow Architecture i read about something called nosql, i didn't understand what it means, and i tried to search on google but seams that i can't get exactly whats it.
Can anyone explain what nosql means in simple words?
From the NoSQL Homepage
NoSQL is a fast, portable, relational database management system without arbitrary limits, (other than memory and processor speed) that runs under, and interacts with, the UNIX 1 Operating System. It uses the "Operator-Stream Paradigm" described in "Unix Review", March, 1991, page 24, entitled "A 4GL Language". There are a number of "operators" that each perform a unique function on the data. The "stream" is supplied by the UNIX Input/Output redirection mechanism. Therefore each operator processes some data and then passes it along to the next operator via the UNIX pipe function. This is very efficient as UNIX pipes are implemented in memory. NoSQL is compliant with the "Relational Model".
I would also see this answer on Stackoverflow.
NoSQL is the idea that SQL-type databases don't satisfy the demands/requirements of a heavily-used database that requires transactions be reliable and failsafe (or close to it). This ties into the ideas of ACID and CAP, both things worth looking into but not something to lose sleep over unless you run a really popular site that is transaction-heavy (ie Amazon or Ebay). To get a great start on these subjects, I suggest:
http://www.eflorenzano.com/blog/post/my-thoughts-nosql/
and
http://www.julianbrowne.com/article/viewer/brewers-cap-theorem
Something everyone considering a "nosql" approach should consider:
(I shan't risk putting the image into this post as it contains a curse word, and I don't want offensive flags. So clicker beware -- there's an f-word in there. Only click if you have a sense of humor.)
