How Accurate is SAP on Only HANA Being an ACID Database?
Executive Summary
- SAP proposes that the fact HANA is an ACID compliant database is a new thing for databases.
- SAP is attempting to trick customers regarding fundamental concepts regarding databases.
Introduction
SAP has a long history of using the terms inaccurately, and they mostly never get called out in IT media outlets. In this article, we will evaluate the accuracy of this usage of something called ACID for databases.
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Notice of Lack of Financial Bias: We have no financial ties to SAP or any other entity mentioned in this article.
The Statements About HANA and ACID Compliance
This is from SAP’s website.
ACID Compliance?
ACID stands for (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability). They are fundamental requirements of a database.
Every single one of the databases that HANA competes with is ACID compliant! And they have been for decades. This is equivalent to General Motors saying that its cars are better than competitors because they use spark plugs.
Why would SAP say such a thing? Most likely, because their readers do not know what ACID compliance is, they think it is different.
Ding Ding Ding!
We award SAP a Golden Pinocchio for making this proposal.
The comment is so divorced from reality and so false that there is no other conclusion than SAP is undoubtedly aware they are deceiving readers by publishing these statements.
Conclusion
This is one of many statements meant to deceive readers about HANA. HANA is ACID compliant, but none of SAP’s competitors aren’t, and ACID stopped being an area of competition in databases decades ago. SAP goes further to imply that only HANA is ACID compliant. It depends upon the reading, but it is certainly intended to make it appear as if it is a differentiator.