The problem with a full box of big data tools
“NoSQL”, for lack of better name, is a generic term that describes any data management system that does not use SQL as a query interface. Generally this means any data management system that is non-relational, but the term also has also been stretched as far to include the boundaries of what constitutes a data management system at all.
Early on (a couple of years back in NoSQL time) when the term was coined I think the positioning was much more aggressive, but more recently this has been softened so now NoSQL is commonly quoted as meaning of “Not only SQL” or “next generation databases” (whatever that means). The common message you get now is something along the lines of NoSQL systems are more “specialized”, each being designed to solve a smaller number of problems than the generic RDBMS sets out to. NoSQL is another tool in your toolbox. A better option in certain cases where the RDBMS doesn’t fit well. A different hammer for a different type of nail. All makes sense in theory, but in reality this brings its own set of troubles.
