AI developers and coders, including those working with frameworks like bolt.net, often prefer PostgreSQL databases over Firebase for several reasons:
- PostgreSQL offers full relational database capabilities with standard SQL, supporting complex queries, joins, transactions, and strong ACID compliance. This is beneficial for applications needing robust data integrity and complex data relationships.
- Developers familiar with SQL and relational data modeling find PostgreSQL’s mature ecosystem and open standards more comfortable and flexible to work with. It allows expressive querying and advanced database tuning.
- PostgreSQL-based platforms provide direct SQL access, database-native security policies (like row-level security), and open-source transparency, aligning well with developer preferences for control and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- In contrast, Firebase uses a proprietary NoSQL document store (Firestore) optimized for real-time syncing and mobile apps but with limitations on complex queries, vendor lock-in, and less flexible querying language.
According to recent analyses, PostgreSQL-based databases attracts developers who prioritize data integrity, complex querying, and control, including AI and data-intensive applications, despite the high costs. Meanwhile, Firebase appeals more to rapid prototyping, and teams invested in Google’s ecosystem.
So, for AI programmers like those working in bolt.net, who often require robust, scalable, and complex data querying capabilities, PostgreSQL is generally preferred over Firebase.
The non human AI Coding App Also Prefers PostgreSQL!
AI-powered apps like bolt.new generally work better with PostgreSQL for several key reasons related to functionality and interfacing capabilities:
- Deeper database functionality: PostgreSQL supports complex queries, joins, transactions, triggers, stored procedures, and advanced SQL features that allow bolt.new apps to implement more robust and sophisticated data logic directly at the database level. This enhances application capabilities beyond simple data storage or retrieval.
- Better integration: bolt.new by default uses PostgreSQL (via platforms such as Supabase) as its primary backend database service. It benefits from PostgreSQL’s mature ecosystem, support for real-time subscriptions, row-level security, and built-in authentication integration, enabling more secure and functional apps out of the box.
- Custom backend logic: With PostgreSQL, bolt.new apps can define database functions and triggers that implement business logic server-side, improving performance and consistency. This is more challenging with NoSQL solutions like Firebase that lack advanced procedural capabilities.
- Data persistence and complex data models: PostgreSQL’s relational model fits well for apps needing structured data persistence with relationships, ensuring that bolt.new apps can manage more sophisticated data schemas effectively.
- Supported workflows and connectors: bolt.new works well with PostgreSQL’s open standards and widely supported APIs, facilitating smooth integration and easier synchronization with other systems or data warehouses.
Developers or even bolt.new’s AI-assisted coding features create, manage, and query complex SQL tables and leverage real-time updates and authentication features directly through PostgreSQL.
Read about the many advantages of using PostgreSQL and the problems with Firebase.
In contrast, while Firebase offers real-time syncing and easier setup for simple document-based data, it lacks the advanced query and procedural logic capabilities that PostgreSQL provides, limiting bolt.new apps’ potential complexity and control.
Overall, bolt.new apps typically interface better with PostgreSQL and can leverage its extensive functionality to build more feature-rich, scalable, and maintainable AI-powered applications.
This aligns with user experiences and documentation from bolt.new communities and integration guides showing PostgreSQL as the favored backend for its robust features and developer-friendly ecosystem.