Why We Should Prioritize Glide Normal Tables over Glide Big Tables for Now
Key Takeaways
- Glide Normal Tables offer greater flexibility for computations and relations, making them ideal for most current app development needs without the restrictions of Big Tables.
- Big Tables excel in handling massive datasets but come with significant limitations that can hinder app functionality and performance in complex scenarios.
- Prioritizing Normal Tables ensures reliable, efficient builds today while we monitor improvements to Big Tables for future scalability.
The Challenge We Face
As we scale our apps, choosing the right data source is critical, but Glide Big Tables' limitations often create more hurdles than solutions for non-transactional use cases.
- Computed columns and aggregations in Big Tables are capped at 100 rows, restricting advanced data processing.
- Features like single value columns and multi-lookups are unavailable or limited, complicating relations and queries.
- Syncing issues across devices can lead to outdated data, risking user errors in real-time applications.
Why This Is the Solution
Prioritizing Glide Normal Tables addresses these challenges by providing robust, unrestricted tools for building responsive apps. Here's why they stand out:
Unrestricted Computations and Relations
- Benefit: Full support for single value columns, unlimited lookups, and rollups without row caps.
- Reason: Enables complex data manipulations essential for dynamic apps, avoiding Big Tables' 100-row limits on aggregations.
Seamless Syncing and Editing
- Benefit: Real-time updates across devices without manual refreshes.
- Reason: Prevents data inconsistencies, ensuring reliable user experiences in collaborative environments.
Easier Management for Most Workloads
- Benefit: Handles up to 25,000 rows efficiently with no special setup.
- Reason: Suited for non-massive datasets, reducing complexity while Big Tables are better reserved for high-volume transactional data.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Criteria | Glide Normal Tables | Glide Big Tables |
|---|---|---|
| Row Limit | 25,000 | 10 million |
| Speed | High (native, fast loads) | High (optimized for scale) |
| Scalability | Medium (row cap) | High (massive datasets) |
| Computations | High (unlimited) | Low (some offer only 100-row limits) |
| Syncing | High (real-time) | Medium (might have to add a reload action in some cases) |
| Ease of Use | High (full features) | Medium (limitations on relations/deletes) |
What This Means for Us
- Enhanced app reliability through unrestricted features, leading to fewer development roadblocks and faster iterations.
- Reduced risk of data errors from syncing issues, improving user trust and operational efficiency.
- Cost-effective scaling for current projects, reserving Big Tables for future high-volume needs without overcomplicating builds.
- Stronger focus on core business logic, as Normal Tables support complex queries and rollups that drive insightful reporting.
Our Recommendation
Prioritize Glide Normal Tables for all non-transactional and moderate-scale apps to leverage their full feature set and reliability; reserve Big Tables strictly for datasets exceeding 25,000 rows where limitations won't impede functionality.