Do you really need a vector-native database?
Bill Doerrfeld | September 23, 2025
Do you really need a vector-native DB, or will traditional DBs with vector support cut it?
With the rise of AI, vector databases have quickly become a mainstay of modern software architecture. Vector native DBs are booming — but do you really need a shiny new database, or can traditional systems with vector support do the trick?
I’m excited to share my latest for InfoWorld, where I explore the world of vector databases and break down the differences, use cases, and tradeoffs.
Interestingly, three in four engineers are using a vector native DB over a DB with a vector add-on. Learn why in my article! 😉
The piece includes some helpful takes from a handful of industry experts, as well as fresh findings from a new HostingAdvice.com report on vector DBs.
I recently spoke with LinkedIn VP of Engineering Prashanthi Padmanabhan about the making of their Hiring Assistant, an agent recruiters are using to optimize the applicant selection process.
How do you fail at platform engineering? Make it 100% UI-first. Don't market it. Survey no one. Measure success by who's onboarded. And just copy what others are doing.
This year's Platform Summit felt reinvigorated, with many new motivations and areas to discuss. Of course, AI agents and MCP stole the show.
For my latest DirectorPlus edition, I interviewed Thomas Johnson, co-founder and CTO of Multiplayer, about lessons learned releasing their MCP server.
Join me in Stockholm for Platform Summit 2025 and the API Security UnConference, October 13–15. Exciting talks, networking, and more.
MCP shines for indeterministic workflows, novel integrations, and giving AI coding agents context on the fly. But for more predictable automation it may be overengineeering.
For my latest DirectorPlus column with LeadDev, I synced with JB Brown, VP of engineering at Smartsheet, to learn about their multi-agent AI development strategy.
Alternative clouds are having a moment. Nearly 75% of orgs are using two or more alt clouds beyond the hyperscalers, according to a HostingAdvice.com report.
The cloud is no longer borderless. Rising regional data laws and sovereign cloud mandates are forcing CIOs to act.
In a multi-agent coding workflow, an engineer leads a "team" of specialist AI agents to perform various SDLC tasks: scaffolding, coding, testing, log analysis, deployment, and more.
