Which Database should I use for a moble app?

Question

Which Database should I use for a moble app?. Specifically, I would also like a step-by-step tutorial for setting up this database.

Since bing is a Microsoft product I thought I would give your AI co-pilot a try and ask him for advice. That might not have been a good idea since somethimes companies are compartmentalized and different parts of the same company do not communicate with other parts. Anyway, the answers I got were:

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First of all, the .NET MAUI toturoal was just a "do this, download that, then do this" kind of thing and I felt it did not explain why something was done. It also did not answer my question as to what database was being used and why. I was also disappointed that this approach would build a front-end that promised to be cross platform, but not so much in the fact that I would have to use an Apple computer to build the I-phone version. Also, I was not asking copilot for a complet tutorial for the cell phone, just which database is best to use and a tutorial of that database in ASURE. I need to start building my solutioni from the back to the front and I need to know the best database type on Azure to start with.

Microsoft Power Apps offers a true platform where the user can build a cell phone app and use it on both Android and i-Phones and there is no need to use an Apple computer to do this. So why didn't Copilot AI use that instead of .NET MAUI. It is almost as if AI is not really self-aware and have a consciousness at all like they have in the movies....I mean, almost. I am joking, obviously. But, still, this is why I am making this post here on this forum now. It is because we still can't do better than asking a real human being a questioin/

The second suggestion from Co-pilot does not even mention using a a cell phone as the UI of choice. It also has me concered for a different reason. It seems to suggest that there is no direct way to create a database table on Aaure. Does this mean that there really isn't a way to build a database on Azure unless you BEGIN with a front-end and work backwards? Is there no UI available with Azure to build a database? Since this suggestion does not mention using a cell phone as being the end UI/UX. I think this might not be a good way to go.

The third suggestion mentiones WPF which, according to what I have found, is on its way out.

Please advise. Which Database should I use for a moble app?. Specifically, I would also like a step-by-step tutorial for setting up this database. Since I have already designed what the tables will look like, I would like to start with setting up those tables in my Azure account. Thanks in advance.

Accepted Answer

@William Thompson Thank you for reaching out.

I am sorry that AI copilot did not share a complete and clear answer to your ask.

When choosing a database for your mobile app, you have a couple of options.

Choosing the right database will depends on your use case.

What type of data will you store (e.g., files, databases, logs)?
How much data do you expect to handle?
What are the read and write patterns (random vs. sequential)?
Is low latency critical for your application?

Azure Data platform provides different types of Databases. Each option has its strengths, so choose based on your specific app requirements.

Azure Cosmos db , Azure SQL Database, Azure PostgreSQL and MySQL...

Azure SQL Database: Offers automatic scaling, high availability, and built-in security features. Use Case: If your app requires structured data with strict relationships between tables, Azure SQL Database is a good choice. Azure SQL Database do also have serverless whether you can auto-paise the database for inactive period.
Azure Cosmos DB: Use Case: If your app requires a versatile and powerful non-relational database that can handle different data models and APIs, Azure Cosmos DB is a good fit. If your app requires massive scale for high throughput or very large database sizes, Cosmos DB is an excellent choice.
Azure MySQL flexible server: Suitable for web development and relational data processing. Popular choice for web applications.
Azure PostgreSQL Flexible server: Open-source database system with deployment flexibility. Used in a wide range of application development scenarios.
Microsoft Power Apps: Great for rapid app development, especially when you don’t want to write extensive code. Suitable for business apps, forms, and simple data-driven applications.