Flat text files vs database

petrachys

I've designed a php site system, and my hope is to make it easy enough to use a database, or text files for the content. MY question is though, what is the difference in terms of how much more resources are used to parse and retreive text files as opposed to database files? Is there a point that text files just become completely impratical? I'm more concerned with performance rather than pros or cons to developing with a db rather than files.

feldon23

I found that even a 10kb text file "slush file" for all the text on a site slows things down. For now, each of my pages draws from its own text file.

For performance, there's no question you should go MySQL.

petrachys

I've got lots of relatively small text files, and the reason I ask is for the portability and ease of use compared to setting up a database, especially if it's a small site. The functions in my system are pretty easy to interchange with databases for retrieving source files.

feldon23

A MySQL database is MORE portable than individual text files scattered all over your site in my opinion.

Again, if effort/learning are free, then go MySQL. I went with text files cause my webhost has not got their act together yet on MySQL (I don't have full admin permissions) and cause text files was a good way to get started.