Comparison of data filling of FB 5 and PostgreSQL 17

A study comparing Firebird 5 and PostgreSQL 17 reveals that the best choice for database storage efficiency depends on the specific data types and usage patterns.

Key Findings:

• Character Data: Firebird demonstrates superior efficiency in storing character data types, particularly for larger field sizes.
• Integer Data: PostgreSQL is more efficient when it comes to storing integer data.
• Updates: When 25% of the rows were updated, Firebird’s database size increased by only 8%, while PostgreSQL’s grew by 25%. After updating 50% of the data, Firebird saw an additional 12% increase, while PostgreSQL’s size increased by another 26%.
• Temporal Data: Both databases are comparable in storing simple temporal data. However, for data types that include time zones, PostgreSQL uses more space for time with time zones, but less for timestamps with time zones.

In conclusion, the study suggests that Firebird may be a more space-economical choice for databases with frequent updates to character-heaving data. PostgreSQL, on the other hand, offers better storage efficiency for integer-based data and certain temporal data types. The choice between the two will ultimately depend on the specific needs and data characteristics of the application.