Question

When developing whether its Web or Desktop at which point should a developer switch from SQLite, MySQL, MS SQL, etc

Answer 1

It depends on what you are doing. You might switch if:

• You need more scalability or better performance – say from SQLite to SQL Server or Oracle.
• You need access to more specific datatypes.
• You need to support a customer that only runs a particular database.
• You need better DBA tools.
• Your application is using a different platform where your database no longer runs, or it’s libraries do not run.
• You have the ability/time/budget to actually make the change. Depending on the situation, the migration could be a bigger project than everything in the project up to that point. Migrations like these are great places to introduce inconsistencies, or to lose data, so a lot of care is required.

There are many more reasons for switching and it all depends on your requirements and the attributes of the databases.