Comparison of Hibernate with Derby embedded vs DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded

Each of the following tables focuses on a specific database operation, where the last table presents average results comparison.

Speed comparison of JPA database persistence operations (normalized score, higher is better)

Transaction Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	5.9	14.2	3.8	4.8	4.9	9.5
Element Collection Test	2.9	6.6	1.8	2.1	2.3	4.3
Inheritance Test	5.3	13.6	3.7	4.6	4.5	9.1
Indexing Test	7.0	24.6	4.8	11.1	5.9	17.8
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	1.9	6.8	1.7	4.5	1.8	5.7
Multithreading Test	10.5	38.5	3.7	8.5	7.1	23.5
All Tests	5.6	17.4	3.3	5.9	4.4	11.7

The results above show that in general DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is more efficient than Hibernate with Derby embedded in persisting JPA entity objects to the database. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (4.4) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (11.7) reveals that in these tests, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 2.7 times faster than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

A large performance gap has been detected when using multithreading with small transaction size. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (10.5) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (38.5) reveals that in that case, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 3.7 times faster than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

Speed comparison of JPA database retrieval operations (normalized score, higher is better)

Retrieval Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	14.2	6.6	16.4	10.2	15.3	8.4
Element Collection Test	4.4	3.6	4.9	8.1	4.6	5.8
Inheritance Test	10.3	5.7	18.6	8.8	14.4	7.2
Indexing Test	10.0	5.1	16.4	9.5	13.2	7.3
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	2.6	7.2	3.0	9.3	2.8	8.3
Multithreading Test	19.3	8.1	19.3	9.5	19.3	8.8
All Tests	10.1	6.0	13.1	9.2	11.6	7.6

The results above show that in general Hibernate with Derby embedded is more efficient than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded in retrieving JPA entity objects from the database.

A large performance gap has been detected when using multithreading with small retrieval size. Comparing the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (8.1) to the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (19.3) reveals that in that case, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 2.4 times faster than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

On the other hand, Hibernate with Derby embedded is slower, for instance, when using graphs of objects with large retrieval size. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (3.0) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (9.3) reveals that in that case, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 3.1 times slower than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

Speed comparison of JPA database query operations (normalized score, higher is better)

Retrieval Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	49.3	1.4	6.8	0.48	28.1	0.95
Element Collection Test	37.6	1.3	2.7	0.67	20.1	1.0
Inheritance Test	24.1	1.6	7.6	0.61	15.9	1.1
Indexing Test	5.3	0.0016	14.8	0.63	10.1	0.32
Multithreading Test	39.7	0.40	6.1	failed	22.9	0.40
All Tests	31.2	0.96	7.6	0.60	19.4	0.80

DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded has failed in 1 tests (see exceptions).

The results above show that in general Hibernate with Derby embedded is much more efficient than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded in executing the tested JPA queries. Comparing the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (0.80) to the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (19.4) reveals that in these tests, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 24.2 times faster than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

A huge performance gap has been detected when using database indexes with small retrieval size. Comparing the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (0.0016) to the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (5.3) reveals that in that case, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 3,312 times faster than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

Speed comparison of JPA database update operations (normalized score, higher is better)

Transaction Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	4.5	11.5	3.2	2.7	3.8	7.1
Element Collection Test	3.9	6.9	3.1	2.7	3.5	4.8
Inheritance Test	4.6	10.3	4.5	3.6	4.5	6.9
Indexing Test	4.6	11.4	5.5	4.4	5.1	7.9
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	2.7	3.5	1.2	1.5	2.0	2.5
Multithreading Test	11.6	failed	2.6	failed	7.1	failed
All Tests	5.3	8.7	3.3	3.0	4.3	5.8

DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded has failed in 2 tests (see exceptions).

The results above show that in general DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is more efficient than Hibernate with Derby embedded in updating JPA entity objects in the database.

A large performance gap has been detected when using simple basic entities with small transaction size. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (4.5) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (11.5) reveals that in that case, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 2.6 times faster than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

Speed comparison of JPA database removal operations (normalized score, higher is better)

Transaction Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	3.8	4.2	4.2	1.3	4.0	2.8
Element Collection Test	2.3	4.9	1.5	1.6	1.9	3.2
Inheritance Test	4.0	4.0	4.3	1.3	4.2	2.7
Indexing Test	5.5	7.5	3.6	1.9	4.6	4.7
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	0.74	2.9	0.96	2.0	0.85	2.5
Multithreading Test	5.6	40.1	4.9	13.7	5.3	26.9
All Tests	3.7	10.6	3.3	3.7	3.5	7.1

The results above show that in general DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is more efficient than Hibernate with Derby embedded in deleting JPA entity objects from the database. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (3.5) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (7.1) reveals that in these tests, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 2.0 times faster than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

A large performance gap has been detected when using multithreading with small transaction size. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (5.6) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (40.1) reveals that in that case, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 7.2 times faster than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

On the other hand, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is slower, for instance, when using class inheritance in the object model with large transaction size. Comparing the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (1.3) to the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (4.3) reveals that in that case, DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded is 3.3 times slower than Hibernate with Derby embedded.

Comparison of database storage efficiency (normalized score, higher is better)

Transaction Size =>	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	52.7	41.4	52.7	41.4	52.7	41.4
Element Collection Test	42.3	23.4	42.3	23.4	42.3	23.4
Inheritance Test	49.2	41.4	49.2	41.4	49.2	41.4
Indexing Test	53.0	48.4	53.9	49.2	53.4	48.8
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	13.1	12.5	9.8	9.4	11.5	10.9
Multithreading Test	49.3	51.9	8.8	10.3	29.0	31.1
All Tests	43.3	36.5	36.1	29.2	39.7	32.9

The results above show that in general Hibernate with Derby embedded is slightly more efficient than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded in using disk space.

Comparison of JPA/Database speed - the averages (normalized score, higher is better)

Transaction/Retrieval Size	Few Entities		Many Entities		Average Score
	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded	Hibernate Derby embedded	DataNucleus HSQLDB embedded
Basic Person Test	15.5	7.6	6.9	3.9	11.2	5.7
Element Collection Test	10.2	4.7	2.8	3.0	6.5	3.8
Inheritance Test	9.7	7.1	7.7	3.8	8.7	5.4
Indexing Test	6.5	9.7	9.0	5.5	7.8	7.6
Graph (Binary Tree) Test	2.0	5.1	1.7	4.3	1.8	4.7
Multithreading Test	17.3	21.8	7.3	10.6	12.3	17.0
All Tests	10.5	9.0	6.1	4.8	8.3	7.0

The results above show that in general Hibernate with Derby embedded is slightly more efficient than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded in performing JPA database operations.

A large performance gap has been detected when using JPA element collections with small transaction/retrieval size. Comparing the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (4.7) to the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (10.2) reveals that in that case, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 2.2 times faster than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

On the other hand, Hibernate with Derby embedded is slower, for instance, when using graphs of objects with small transaction/retrieval size. Comparing the normalized speed of Hibernate with Derby embedded database (2.0) to the normalized speed of DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded database (5.1) reveals that in that case, Hibernate with Derby embedded is 2.6 times slower than DataNucleus with HSQLDB embedded.

JPA Performance Benchmark (JPAB)