US leads in NoSQL enterprise database development but Asia catching up

Development activity in NoSQL structured storage databases is growing strongly in enterprises, and the US is currently leading the pack, according to the latest figures from research firm Evans Data.

Around 56 per cent of the US enterprise developers surveyed are already using NoSQL within their organisation, and nearly two thirds are planning to use the databases in the next two years.

The figures are lower for the general developer population at 43 per cent using NoSQL, but the US leads the world in deployments.

By contrast, over a quarter of developers in Asia are currently using NoSQL, and 68 per cent are planning to use the system. Europe, however, is lagging behind, with just 39 per cent of developers planning to use the database.

"The advent of Big Data is driving adoption of NoSQL, and this is especially true in the enterprise," said Janel Garvin, chief executive of Evans Data.

"While it may have got its start on the web with innovations like Big Table and MapReduce, it's the enterprise that can most benefit from NoSQL, and developers realise this across all geographical regions."

NoSQL database systems use relatively unstructured data storage silos, rather than rigidly defined schemas used in traditional relational database management systems.

They are proving popular for storing and mining the vast amounts of data now being generated by businesses and governments, and are easily scalable.

The US developer survey also showed strong support for the latest multithreading technology, with four out of five programmers coding for the improved software handling that multiple threads can manage. Nearly 40 per cent also said they are developing applications for wireless devices.

Over 80 per cent of the development community choose Windows when it comes to personal operating system, ahead of Mac OS and Linux.