Originally posted by Edwin Keeton:
It's also my experience, unfortunately, that politics usually trumps all else in this decision. "It's Microsoft!", or the Oracle sales rep is really cute, tend to hold greater sway at the management decision making level.
Agreed, that's exactly what I meant when I said choosing a database isn't arbitrary unless upper management is involved... then it comes down to "which company do we employ 2 full members of and have we all ready given a truckload of money to for some other product... ok we'll go with them...". The worst part is decisions like this are made and developers are stuck with the results no matter what, or fired (driven out) because they can't spin straw into gold.