Slide 1.8: Pros and cons of using file systems

Pros and Cons of Using File Systems

Pros of Using File Systems:

It is efficient since it does not have the same computing overhead as using a database.
It is flexible because developers can design and implement file structures and file processing methods specific for the problems.

Cons of Using File Systems:

It requires the developers to define and implement file structures and file processing methods for each application.
It is unable to span files over several disks.
It is difficult and expensive to change the format of files and the specific files that are used by the programs.
File processing leads to a lack of consistency between files. The classic example is when an employee leaves a company, his name is taken off the payroll system, but his security access is not revoked.
File processing also results in wasted storage.

Summary
In conclusion, files are a useful alternative to databases only where

^†Using databases can relieve developers' task of designing file structures for their applications. However, flexibility is the cost. In fact,

a DBMS is, first and foremost, a disk access manager.

^‡Actually, this course is a study of advanced data structures with data in both of the computer memory and the secondary storage.