#databases

The famous framing is wrong twice over. Partition tolerance was never something you choose, and the trade-off only exists while a partition is happening. Which means CAP is silent about the decision you actually make every day, and PACELC is the version that names it.

The honest default for most apps is Postgres, and NoSQL is a tool you reach for with a reason, not a lifestyle. Here is how to tell which one your project actually needs.