Can the HBase database system be used as a live application database with CRUD features?

Question

I have been reading more about the low-latency ability that HBase database system offers on Hadoop. While most Hadoop data stores are meant for write-only map/reduce functions, HBase appears to have low-latency update/delete features as well.

Is HBase a good candidate to be used to replace existing live application databases?

Answer 1

I do use HBase as a back end for a client facing web application. It all depends on how the data is structured in Hbase for faster retrieval (all ties back to RowKey design) and how updates/CURD operations are handled (adding versions)

additional reference HBase as web app backend

hbase as database in web application

The answer is YES one can replace an existing database by carefully evaluating the primary objectives of the application (especially performance)