MySQL vs. MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL on Deploynix: Which Should You Pick?

Choosing a database is one of the first decisions you make when starting a Laravel project, and one of the hardest to reverse later. Laravel supports MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite out of the box, and Deploynix lets you provision dedicated servers for MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL with a few clicks. But which one should you pick? The answer depends on your application's requirements, your team's expertise, and the specific features you need. This guide provides a thorough comparison to help you make an informed decision. A Brief History Understanding where each database comes from helps explain their design philosophies. MySQL was created in 1995 by MySQL AB and is now owned by Oracle. It's the "M" in the LAMP stack and has been the default choice for PHP applications for decades. MySQL prioritized ease of use and speed for read-heavy web applications. Oracle's stewardship has brought enterprise features and improved standards compliance, but has also raised concerns about the