Choosing the right database is a critical choice when building any software application. All databases have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to performance, so deciding which database has the most benefits and the most minor downsides for your specific use case and data model is an important decision. Below you will find an overview of the key concepts, architecture, features, use cases, and pricing models of AWS DynamoDB and QuestDB so you can quickly see how they compare against each other.

The primary purpose of this article is to compare how AWS DynamoDB and QuestDB perform for workloads involving time series data, not for all possible use cases. Time series data typically presents a unique challenge in terms of database performance. This is due to the high volume of data being written and the query patterns to access that data. This article doesn’t intend to make the case for which database is better; it simply provides an overview of each database so you can make an informed decision.

AWS DynamoDB vs QuestDB Breakdown


 
Database Model

Key-value and document store

Time series database

Architecture

DynamoDB is a fully managed, serverless NoSQL database provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It uses a single-digit millisecond latency for high-performance use cases and supports both key-value and document data models. Data is partitioned and replicated across multiple availability zones within an AWS region, and DynamoDB supports eventual or strong consistency for read operations

QuestDB is designed for horizontal scaling, enabling you to distribute data and queries across multiple nodes for increased performance and availability. It can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid solution, depending on your infrastructure needs and preferences.

License

Closed source

Apache 2.0

Use Cases

Serverless web applications, real-time bidding platforms, gaming leaderboards, IoT data management, high-velocity data processing

Monitoring, observability, IoT, Real-time analytics, Financial services, High-frequency trading

Scalability

Automatically scales to handle large amounts of read and write throughput, supports on-demand capacity and auto-scaling, global tables for multi-region replication

High-performance with support for horizontal scaling and multi-threading

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AWS DynamoDB Overview

Amazon DynamoDB is a managed NoSQL database service provided by AWS. It was first introduced in 2012, and it was designed to provide low-latency, high-throughput performance. DynamoDB is built on the principles of the Dynamo paper, which was published by Amazon engineers in 2007, and it aims to offer a highly available, scalable, and distributed key-value store.

QuestDB Overview

QuestDB is an open-source relational column-oriented database designed specifically for time series and event data. It combines high-performance ingestion capabilities with SQL analytics, making it a powerful tool for managing and analyzing large volumes of time-based data. QuestDB addresses the challenges of handling high throughput and provides a simple way to analyze ingested data through SQL queries. It is well-suited for use cases such as financial market data and application metrics.


AWS DynamoDB for Time Series Data

DynamoDB can be used with time series data, although it may not be the most optimized solution compared to specialized time series databases. To store time series data in DynamoDB, you can use a composite primary key with a partition key for the entity identifier and a sort key for the timestamp. This allows you to efficiently query data for a specific entity and time range. However, DynamoDB’s main weakness when dealing with time series data is its lack of built-in support for data aggregation and downsampling, which are common requirements for time series analysis. You may need to perform these operations in your application or use additional services like AWS Lambda to process the data.

QuestDB for Time Series Data

QuestDB excels in managing and analyzing time series data. With its high-performance ingestion capabilities, it can handle high data throughput, making it suitable for real-time data ingestion scenarios. QuestDB’s SQL extensions for time series enable users to perform real-time analytics and gain valuable insights from their time-stamped data. Whether it’s financial market data or application metrics, QuestDB simplifies the process of ingesting and analyzing time series data through its fast SQL queries and operational simplicity.


AWS DynamoDB Key Concepts

Some of the key terms and concepts specific to DynamoDB include:

  • Tables: In DynamoDB, data is stored in tables, which are containers for items. Each table has a primary key that uniquely identifies each item in the table.
  • Items: Items are individual records in a DynamoDB table, and they consist of one or more attributes.
  • Attributes: Attributes are key-value pairs that make up an item in a table. DynamoDB supports scalar, document, and set data types for attributes.
  • Primary Key: The primary key uniquely identifies each item in a table, and it can be either a single-attribute partition key or a composite partition-sort key.

QuestDB Key Concepts

  • Time Series: QuestDB focuses on time series data, which represents data points indexed by time. It is optimized for storing and processing time-stamped data efficiently.
  • Column-Oriented: QuestDB employs a column-oriented storage format, where data is organized and stored column by column rather than row by row. This format enables efficient compression and faster query performance.
  • SQL Extensions: QuestDB extends the SQL language with functionalities specifically tailored for time series data. These extensions facilitate real-time analytics and allow users to leverage familiar SQL constructs for querying time-based data.


AWS DynamoDB Architecture

DynamoDB is a NoSQL database that uses a key-value store and document data model. It is designed to provide high availability, durability, and scalability by automatically partitioning data across multiple servers and using replication to ensure fault tolerance. Some of the main components of DynamoDB include:

  • Partitioning: DynamoDB automatically partitions data based on the partition key, which ensures that data is evenly distributed across multiple storage nodes.
  • Replication: DynamoDB replicates data across multiple availability zones within an AWS region, providing high availability and durability.
  • Consistency: DynamoDB offers two consistency models: eventual consistency and strong consistency, allowing you to choose the appropriate level of consistency for your application.

QuestDB Architecture

QuestDB follows a hybrid architecture that combines features of columnar and row-based databases. It leverages a column-oriented storage format for efficient compression and query performance while retaining the ability to handle relational data with SQL capabilities. QuestDB supports both SQL and NoSQL-like functionalities, providing users with flexibility in their data modeling and querying approaches. The database consists of multiple components, including the ingestion engine, storage engine, and query engine, working together to ensure high-performance data ingestion and retrieval.

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AWS DynamoDB Features

Auto scaling

DynamoDB can automatically scale its read and write capacity based on the workload, allowing you to maintain consistent performance without over-provisioning resources.

Backup and restore

DynamoDB provides built-in support for point-in-time recovery, enabling you to restore your table to a previous state within the last 35 days.

Global tables

DynamoDB global tables enable you to replicate your table across multiple AWS regions, providing low-latency access and data redundancy for global applications.

Streams

DynamoDB Streams capture item-level modifications in your table and can be used to trigger AWS Lambda functions for real-time processing or to synchronize data with other AWS services.

QuestDB Features

High-Performance Ingestion

QuestDB is optimized for high throughput ingestion, allowing users to efficiently ingest large volumes of time series data at high speeds.

Fast SQL Queries

QuestDB provides fast SQL queries for analyzing time series data. It extends the SQL language with time series-specific functionalities to assist with real-time analytics.

Operational Simplicity

QuestDB aims to provide a user-friendly experience with operational simplicity. It supports schema-agnostic ingestion using popular protocols such as InfluxDB line protocol and PostgreSQL wire protocol. Additionally, a REST API is available for bulk imports and exports, simplifying data management tasks.


AWS DynamoDB Use Cases

Session management

DynamoDB can be used to store session data for web applications, providing fast and scalable access to session information.

Gaming

DynamoDB can be used to store player data, game state, and other game-related information for online games, providing low-latency and high-throughput performance.

Internet of Things

DynamoDB can be used to store and process sensor data from IoT devices, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of device data.

QuestDB Use Cases

Financial Market Data

QuestDB is well-suited for managing and analyzing financial market data. Its high-performance ingestion and fast SQL queries enable efficient processing and analysis of large volumes of market data in real time.

Application Metrics

QuestDB can be used for collecting and analyzing application metrics. Its ability to handle high data throughput and provide real-time analytics capabilities makes it suitable for monitoring and analyzing performance metrics, logs, and other application-related data.

IoT Data Analysis

QuestDB’s high-performance ingestion and time series analytics capabilities make it a valuable tool for analyzing IoT sensor data.


AWS DynamoDB Pricing Model

DynamoDB offers two pricing options: provisioned capacity and on-demand capacity. With provisioned capacity, you specify the number of reads and writes per second that you expect your application to require, and you are charged based on the amount of provisioned capacity. This pricing model is suitable for applications with predictable traffic or gradually ramping traffic. You can use auto scaling to adjust your table’s capacity automatically based on the specified utilization rate, ensuring application performance while reducing costs.

On the other hand, with on-demand capacity, you pay per request for the data reads and writes your application performs on your tables. You do not need to specify how much read and write throughput you expect your application to perform, as DynamoDB instantly accommodates your workloads as they ramp up or down. This pricing model is suitable for applications with fluctuating or unpredictable traffic patterns.

QuestDB Pricing Model

QuestDB is an open-source project released under the Apache 2 License. It is freely available for usage and does not require any licensing fees. Users can access the source code on GitHub and deploy QuestDB on their own infrastructure without incurring direct costs. QuestDB also offers a managed cloud service.