Can I use an alternative database to MySQL?

A number of database "architectures" exist each with their own implementations of SQL. These include MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL and SQLite to name just a few of the more commonly known SQL architectures.

MySQL is arguably the world's most popular database engine. Over the years, it has been used by many high profile sites including YouTube, Google, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), and eBay. MySQL is also found and supported on the majority of web hosting providers around the globe as standard. Additionally, MySQL may also be freely downloaded and installed on your own server/system.

Given its popularity and wide availability, MySQL remains the most accessible database engine to our customers, and therefore until recently had been the only SQL database engine officially supported by MIDAS.

However, MariaDB is an increasingly popular free open source database engine. Its developers promote MariaDB as a "drop in replacement for MySQL".

We have successfully tested and support our MIDAS software using the MariaDB database engine. In fact, in 2021 our cloud-hosted customers were migrated from MySQL to MariaDB databases.

Therefore, you can choose to use either MySQL or MariaDB for your self-hosted MIDAS room booking system!