MC Brown - Developing with Couchbase Server: building scalable, flexible database-based applications

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As a long time developer of database-based projects, I can appreciate how over time we have been programmed to work within the table and row-based structure provided by systems like MySQL and Oracle. These database engines all work by using SQL to define the structure and schema, and then ultimately to insert, update and retrieve information.

SQL is not going to go away any time soon, and there are plenty of solutions and use cases where the SQL and the rigid schema make sense. But there also occasions when the strict structure and schema are more of a hindrance than a benefit. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in the recent explosion of highly interactive websites and social media. The variety of information, and much higher levels of interactivity require a completely different type of database in order to handle the load. This is especially true if your application suddenly becomes hugely popular and the volume of activity explodes.

Couchbase Server 2.0 is designed to help in those situations. As one of the growning number of NoSQL-based database technologies, Couchbase Server takes a different approach to the prbolems of storing, searching and supporting data its availability. By using intelligent clustering to distribute and share the load, Couchbase can handle the database needs of those highly interactive applications.

Developing applications against Couchbase Server requires knowing the new structure and interface. Gone are the complexities of SQL and the rigid schemas. In its place, you have new flexibility in the information storage, and diferent ways for storing, reading, connecting, and querying the data that you have stored.

In this guide, Ive combined some basic background information on Couchbase Server and how it operates behind the scenes, with the information you need to start building applications. The methods for storing information and querying that data, and how you can organize and format your data to get the best performance and operation from your Couchbase Cluster.