comparison.md

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Storm vs Other Frameworks

There is no universally "best" database framework. Each has strengths suited to different situations, team preferences, and project requirements. Teams approach data access differently, including using frameworks at various abstraction levels or even plain SQL. This page provides an honest comparison to help you evaluate whether Storm fits your needs, particularly if you value explicit and predictable behavior and fast development. We encourage you to explore the linked documentation for each framework and form your own conclusions.

Feature Comparison

The following tables provide a side-by-side comparison of concrete features across all frameworks discussed on this page. "Yes" and "No" indicate built-in support; "Manual" means the feature is achievable but requires explicit effort from the developer.

Entity & Data Modeling

Feature	Storm	JPA	Spring Data	MyBatis	jOOQ	JDBI	Exposed	Ktorm
Lines per entity	~5	~301	~301	~20+	Generated	~15	~12	~15
Immutable entities	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	DSL only	No
Polymorphism	Yes2	Yes	Via JPA	No	No	No	No	No
Automatic relationships	Yes	Yes3	Via JPA	No	No	No	DAO only	No
Cascade persist	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Lifecycle callbacks	Yes	Yes	Via JPA	No	Yes	No	DAO only	No

¹ JPA/Spring Data lines without Lombok; ~10 lines with Lombok.

² Storm supports Single-Table, Joined Table, and Polymorphic FK strategies using sealed types. JPA additionally supports Table-per-Class and multi-level inheritance hierarchies.

³ JPA relationships are runtime-managed via proxies.

Querying & Data Access

Feature	Storm	JPA	Spring Data	MyBatis	jOOQ	JDBI	Exposed	Ktorm
Type-safe queries	Yes	Criteria	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
SQL Templates	Yes	No	No	XML/Ann	Yes	Yes	No	No
N+1 prevention	Yes	No	No	No	Manual	Manual	No	No
Lazy loading	Refs	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Keyset pagination	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
JSON columns	Yes	Yes4	Via JPA	Manual	Yes	Module	Yes	Module
JSON aggregation	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No

⁴ JPA requires Hibernate 6.2+ for built-in JSON support; older versions need a third-party library or custom AttributeConverter.

Runtime & Ecosystem

Feature	Storm	JPA	Spring Data	MyBatis	jOOQ	JDBI	Exposed	Ktorm
Transactions	Both	Both	Declarative	Both	Programmatic	Both	Required	Required
Schema validation	Yes	Yes	Via JPA	No	N/A5	No	Yes	No
Java support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Kotlin support	First-class	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Native	Native
Coroutines	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Limited
Spring integration	Yes	Yes	Native	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Runtime mechanism	Codegen6	Bytecode	Bytecode	Reflection	Codegen	Reflection	Reflection	Reflection
Community	New	Huge	Huge	Large	Medium	Medium	Medium	Small

⁵ jOOQ generates code from the database schema, so schema validation is inherent in its code generation step.

⁶ Storm uses codegen with reflection fallback.

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Storm vs JPA/Hibernate

JPA (typically implemented by Hibernate) is the most widely used persistence framework in the Java ecosystem. It provides a full object-relational mapping layer with managed entities and second-level caching. Storm takes a fundamentally different approach: entities are plain values with no managed state, and database interactions are explicit rather than implicit. This makes Storm simpler to reason about at the cost of JPA's more automated (but less predictable) features.

Aspect	Storm	JPA/Hibernate
Entities	Immutable records/data classes	Mutable classes with getters/setters
Polymorphism	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK); STRING, INTEGER, CHAR discriminators	Class hierarchy (Single-Table, Joined, Table-per-Class); STRING, INTEGER, CHAR discriminators
State	Stateless; no persistence context	Managed entities
Loading	Loading in single query	Lazy loading common
N+1 Problem	Prevented by design; requires explicit opt-in	Common pitfall
Queries	Type-safe DSL, SQL Templates	JPQL, Criteria API
Caching	Transaction-scoped observation	First/second level cache
Transactions	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)	@Transactional, JTA, container-managed
Schema Validation	Programmatic + Spring Boot	ddl-auto=validate
Learning Curve	Gentle; SQL-like	Steep; many concepts
Magic	What you see is what you get	Proxies, bytecode enhancement

Polymorphism differences. Storm and JPA overlap on Single-Table and Joined Table, but diverge beyond that. Storm adds Polymorphic FK, a two-column foreign key (type + id) that references independent tables with no shared base. This has no JPA equivalent (Hibernate offers the non-standard @Any annotation for a similar purpose). JPA adds Table-per-Class, which duplicates all fields into per-subtype tables and queries the base type via UNION ALL, and multi-level inheritance (e.g., Animal → Pet → Cat). Storm intentionally limits hierarchies to a single sealed level, which covers the vast majority of real-world use cases while keeping SQL generation predictable.

When to Choose Storm

• You want predictable, explicit database behavior
• N+1 queries have been a recurring problem
• You prefer immutable data structures
• You value simplicity over complexity
• You're using Kotlin and want idiomatic APIs

When to Choose JPA/Hibernate

• You rely on second-level caching
• You have complex multi-level inheritance hierarchies (Storm supports single-level sealed type polymorphism)
• You have an existing JPA codebase to maintain
• You need JPA compliance for vendor reasons
• You want access to a large community and extensive resources

Storm vs Spring Data JPA

Spring Data JPA wraps JPA with a repository abstraction that derives query implementations from method names. It reduces boilerplate but inherits all of JPA's runtime complexity (proxies, managed state, lazy loading). Storm's Spring integration provides similar repository convenience with explicit query bodies instead of naming conventions.

Aspect	Storm	Spring Data JPA
Foundation	Custom ORM	JPA/Hibernate
Polymorphism	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)	Via JPA
Repositories	Interface with default methods	Interface with method naming, @Query
Query Methods	Explicit DSL in method body	Derived from method names, @Query
Entities	Records/data classes	JPA entities
State	Stateless	Managed
Transactions	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)	@Transactional (Spring-managed)

When to Choose Storm

• You want stateless, immutable entities
• You prefer explicit query logic over naming conventions
• You want to avoid JPA's complexity

When to Choose Spring Data JPA

• You need JPA features (lazy loading, caching)
• You like query derivation from method names
• You're already invested in the JPA ecosystem

Storm vs MyBatis

MyBatis is a SQL mapper that gives you full control over every query. You write SQL in XML files or annotations and map results to POJOs manually. Storm sits at a higher abstraction level, inferring SQL from entity definitions while still allowing raw SQL when needed. The trade-off is flexibility vs. automation: MyBatis never generates SQL for you, while Storm handles the common cases and lets you drop to raw SQL for complex queries.

Aspect	Storm	MyBatis
Approach	Stateless ORM	SQL mapper
Polymorphism	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)	Manual (via SQL)
SQL Definition	Inferred from entities, SQL Templates (optional)	XML files or annotations
Result Mapping	Automatic from entity definitions	Manual XML/annotation mapping
Entities	Records/data classes with annotations	POJOs, manual mapping
Relationships	Automatic via @FK	Manual nested queries/joins
Type Safety	Compile-time checked	String SQL, typed result mapping
N+1 Problem	Prevented by design; requires explicit opt-in	Manual optimization
Transactions	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)	Manual or Spring @Transactional
Dynamic SQL	Kotlin/Java code	XML tags (<if>, <foreach>)
Learning Curve	Gentle; annotation-based	Moderate; XML knowledge helpful

When to Choose Storm

• You want automatic entity mapping without XML
• You prefer type-safe queries over string SQL
• You want relationships handled automatically
• You value compile-time safety
• You're starting a new project without legacy SQL

When to Choose MyBatis

• You have complex SQL that doesn't fit ORM patterns
• You need fine-grained control over every query
• You're working with legacy databases or stored procedures
• You need XML-based SQL externalization

Storm vs jOOQ

jOOQ generates Java code from your database schema, providing a type-safe SQL DSL that mirrors the structure of your tables. Storm takes the opposite direction: you define entities in code, and the metamodel is generated from those entities. jOOQ excels at complex SQL (window functions, CTEs, recursive queries) where its DSL closely follows SQL syntax. Storm excels at entity-oriented operations where automatic relationship handling and repository patterns reduce boilerplate.

Aspect	Storm	jOOQ
Approach	Entity-first, convention	SQL-first, code generation
Polymorphism	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)	Manual (via SQL DSL)
Type Safety	Metamodel from entities	Generated from schema
Setup	Define entities, code generation	Schema, code generation
Entities	Records/data classes with Entity	Records or POJOs
Query Style	Repository + ORM DSL + SQL Templates	SQL-like DSL
Relationships	Automatic from @FK	Manual joins
Transactions	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)	DSL context, Spring integration
License	Apache 2.0	Commercial for some DBs

When to Choose Storm

• You prefer defining entities in code, not generating from schema
• You want automatic relationship handling
• You value convention over configuration
• You need a fully open-source solution

When to Choose jOOQ

• You prefer pure SQL control
• You want native DSL support for advanced SQL features (window functions, CTEs)
• You want a thin layer over SQL with minimal runtime overhead

Storm vs JDBI

JDBI is a lightweight SQL convenience library that sits just above JDBC. It handles parameter binding, result mapping, and connection management without imposing an object model. Storm provides more structure with entity definitions, automatic relationship loading, and a repository pattern. Choose JDBI when you want minimal abstraction and full SQL control; choose Storm when you want the framework to handle common patterns while still allowing raw SQL escape hatches.

Aspect	Storm	JDBI
Level	Stateless ORM	Low-level SQL mapping
Polymorphism	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)	Manual
Entities	Automatic from annotations	Manual mapping
Relationships	Automatic via @FK	Manual
Type Safety	Metamodel DSL	String SQL
Transactions	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)	Manual, @Transaction annotation

When to Choose Storm

• You want automatic entity mapping
• You need relationship handling
• You prefer type-safe queries over raw SQL

When to Choose JDBI

• You want full SQL control
• You prefer minimal abstraction
• You have mostly complex queries that don't fit ORM patterns

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Kotlin-Only Frameworks

The following frameworks are Kotlin-only. Storm supports both Kotlin and Java.

Storm vs Exposed

Exposed is JetBrains' official Kotlin database framework. It offers two APIs: a DSL that mirrors SQL syntax and a DAO layer for ORM-style access. Exposed defines tables as Kotlin objects rather than annotations on data classes. Storm and Exposed share the goal of idiomatic Kotlin database access but differ in entity design (mutable DAO entities vs. immutable data classes) and relationship loading strategy (lazy references vs. eager single-query loading).

Aspect	Exposed	Storm
Language	Kotlin only	Kotlin + Java
Polymorphism	No	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)
APIs	DSL (SQL) + DAO (ORM)	Unified ORM + SQL Templates
Table Definition	DSL objects (object Users : Table())	Annotations on data classes
Entities (DAO)	Mutable, extend Entity class	Immutable data classes (Kotlin) / records (Java)
Relationships	Lazy references, manual loading	Loading in single query
N+1 Problem	Possible with DAO	Prevented by design; requires explicit opt-in
Coroutines	Supported (added later)	First-class from the start
Type Safety	Column references	Metamodel DSL
Transactions	Required transaction {} block	Optional, programmatic + declarative

When to Choose Storm

• You need Kotlin and Java support
• You want immutable entities without base class inheritance
• You prefer annotation-based entity definitions
• N+1 queries are a concern
• You want relationships loaded automatically
• You need full support for transaction propagation modes

When to Choose Exposed

• You're building a Kotlin-only project
• You prefer DSL-based table definitions
• You want to switch between SQL DSL and DAO styles
• You like the JetBrains ecosystem integration
• You need fine-grained control over lazy loading
• You need R2DBC support for reactive database access*

*Storm uses JDBC and relies on JVM virtual threads for non-blocking I/O instead of R2DBC.

Storm vs Ktorm

Ktorm is a lightweight Kotlin ORM that uses entity interfaces and DSL-based table definitions. It requires no code generation and has minimal dependencies. Storm differs primarily in its use of immutable data classes (instead of mutable interfaces), automatic relationship loading, and optional metamodel generation for compile-time type safety.

Aspect	Ktorm	Storm
Language	Kotlin only	Kotlin + Java
Polymorphism	No	Sealed types (Single-Table, Joined, Polymorphic FK)
Entities	Interfaces extending Entity	Data classes with annotations
Table Definition	DSL objects (object Users : Table<User>)	Annotations on data classes
Query Style	Sequence API, DSL	ORM DSL + SQL Templates
Relationships	References, manual loading	Automatic loading
N+1 Problem	Possible	Prevented by design; requires explicit opt-in
Code Generation	None required	Optional metamodel
Immutability	Mutable entity interfaces	Immutable data classes
Coroutines	Limited	First-class support
Transactions	useTransaction {} block	Programmatic + @Transactional (Spring)

When to Choose Storm

• You need Kotlin and Java support
• You want immutable data classes, not interfaces
• You prefer annotation-based definitions
• N+1 prevention is important
• You want automatic relationship loading

When to Choose Ktorm

• You're building a Kotlin-only project
• You prefer no code generation
• You like the Sequence API style
• You want a lightweight, minimal dependency footprint
• You prefer DSL-based table definitions

Summary

Storm is a newer framework, so community resources and third-party tutorials are still growing. However, the API is designed to be intuitive for developers familiar with SQL and modern Kotlin/Java.

Choose Storm if you value:

• Simplicity over complexity
• Predictability over magic
• Immutability over managed state
• Explicit over implicit behavior
• Kotlin-first development (or modern Java with records)

Ready to try it? See the Getting Started guide.

Framework Links

• Hibernate ORM
• Spring Data JPA
• MyBatis
• jOOQ
• JDBI
• Exposed
• Ktorm