Why you should not use SQLite in production?
SQLite is a widely used open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that has gained popularity among developers for its ease of use, small footprint, and flexibility. It is an embedded SQL database engine that can be used in various programming languages and platforms. However, despite its popularity, using SQLite in production environments is generally not recommended. In this article, we will discuss some of the reasons why you should not use SQLite in production.
Concurrency
SQLite uses a file-based approach to store data, which means that a single file is used to store the entire database. This file can be accessed by multiple threads or processes simultaneously. However, SQLite's concurrency control mechanism is not as robust as that of other relational databases, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. For example, SQLite locks the entire database file when a write operation is being performed, which can lead to performance issues when multiple users or processes are trying to write to the database simultaneously.
Scalability
SQLite is designed to be a lightweight database engine that can be embedded in various applications. However, it is not designed for high scalability or high availability. As SQLite is a file-based database, it can become slow when the database file size grows beyond a certain limit. Also, SQLite does not support clustering or replication out-of-the-box, which means that scaling the database horizontally can be challenging.
Limited Feature Set
SQLite is a great choice for small-scale applications or prototyping because of its small footprint and ease of use. However, it has a limited feature set compared to other relational databases. For example, it does not support stored procedures, triggers, or views. While these features may not be essential for small-scale applications, they are important for large-scale, complex applications.
Lack of Professional Support
SQLite is an open-source database engine that is maintained by a group of volunteers. While the SQLite community is active and provides support through mailing lists and forums, there is no formal professional support available for SQLite. This can be a concern for organizations that rely on their databases for mission-critical applications.
No Client-Server Architecture
SQLite does not have a client-server architecture, which means that it does not support network access out-of-the-box. This can be a disadvantage for applications that require multiple users to access the database simultaneously from different locations. While there are workarounds to enable network access to SQLite, they can be complicated to implement and may not be as secure as a client-server architecture.
Lack of Security Features
SQLite does not have the same level of security features as other relational databases. For example, it does not support role-based access control, which means that it is difficult to implement fine-grained access control for database objects. Also, SQLite does not have native support for encryption, which means that sensitive data stored in SQLite databases can be vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Conclusion
While SQLite is a great choice for small-scale applications or prototyping, it is not recommended for production environments. SQLite's limited scalability, concurrency control, feature set, and security features make it unsuitable for large-scale, mission-critical applications. If you are looking for a relational database that is suitable for production environments, consider using MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle instead. These databases offer better scalability, concurrency control, feature sets, and security features that are essential for production environments.
