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Major Changes To MySQL Coming Soon

Meltr writes: "This ZDNET article details some of the coming changes to the MySQL database server. In 4.0, to be released in mid-October: 'support for the Unicode character set, the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol, embedded database links and multitable updates' and in 4.1, to be released in December: 'nested queries and stored procedures'."

301 comments

  1. real men use flat files by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    weenies

    1. Re:real men use flat files by elroyjenkins · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Real men also post under while logged in!


      Did you just grab my ass?

      --
      Did you just grab my ass?
    2. Re:real men use flat files by GroovBird · · Score: 1

      no, real men use MUMPS.

      I can tell you. That shit is ugly!

      Dave

    3. Re:real men use flat files by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I use MUMPS extensively. For a lot of things, it is superior to SQL. Since it's a database as well as a programming language, you have incredible control over data layout and access.

      Some parts are ugly and odd (ie - having to set an error trap and catch eof errors to know when you've hit the end of a file), but I'd rahter use it than SQL + perl or php (although I like php, too)

  2. Good Thing by Solidblu · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Hmm I guess this means its a good thing that I didn't buy the MySQL book because its all going to change. I hope that the differnces aren't very complicated to interchange between so that the people who are familar with MySQL now aren't going crazy tring to retrain their brain for the new versions. But its only a hope.

    1. Re:Good Thing by AlecC · · Score: 1

      As far a I can see, the changes are all incremental. Nothing learned so far is changed, just new (and valuable) bells and whistles.

      --
      Consciousness is an illusion caused by an excess of self consciousness.
    2. Re:Good Thing by NineNine · · Score: 1

      Actually, the people who only knew MySQL really didn't know too mcuh about 'real' databases. These improvements are very important parts of 'real' databases (aka: Oracle, DB2) that have been around for at least a decade.

    3. Re:Good Thing by AssFace · · Score: 1

      yeah wait until this change and then buy the book - it will NEVER change from now on, so you should be safe.

      --

      There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
    4. Re:Good Thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Does a 'real' database obligatorily consists of 30 GB installation files at a price range of $10000 or are you just quoting Oracle's sale reps?

      MySQL is fine with me.

    5. Re:Good Thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah that was my approach when i bought a linux book. the kernel didn't improve since 1996.

    6. Re:Good Thing by smack.addict · · Score: 2
      Speaking of MySQL books... I would love to have people interested in MySQL visit:

      http://oreilly.techrev.org

      And look at one or two chapters from our forthcoming book on MySQL. This is the technical review portion of the book which means there are still tons of typos, but what we are looking for is that the community validate its technical content.


      Thanks!

    7. Re:Good Thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Methinks he secretly wishes to give his sales rep "the reach around".

    8. Re:Good Thing by Apagador · · Score: 1

      Well actually I think he means DBMS's which will allow the STANDARD and VERY USEFUL stuff that is mentioned in the original post like the aforementioned NESTED QUERIES. I mean, I use mySQl myself (hmmm... ) along with Oracle, SQLServer, MS's sorry excuse called Access, and a couple more. I enjoy working with mysql precisely because it is not a HUGE install and is quite easy to set up. But lets face it, the darned thing does have it's limitations when compared to those other systems you mention. For you it is fine. For about 30% of the stuff I do it is fine as well, but it IS handicapped, and the advertised improvements will be quite welcome.

    9. Re:Good Thing by Lordrashmi · · Score: 1

      Well said.

      MySQL is perfect for small projects and it can handle large projects as well (My company uses it for a very large project) but it does have its limitations. I SOOOOO want to have sub selects... And store procedures would be nice as well (Then I can just tell the DBA what I need and it is his responsability to get it to me).

      Oracle and DB2 are needed sometimes, but people who say MySQL is not a real database are either Oracle Admins or Oracle sales guys...

  3. Unicode by spiro_killglance · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Unicode support will come in very nicely for
    database driven, foriegn language websites.


    Hope the Java JDBC drivers for MySQL are updated
    to handle unicode as well. (Should be easy, as
    Java got all the Unicode stuff as it is).

    1. Re:Unicode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, I thought that Unicode would be good for sites that use latin characters. Thanks for clearing up that discrepancy.

    2. Re:Unicode by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like anyone on slashdot actually understands Unicode anyway. Remember that "Why Unicode Won't Work on the Internet" article? Sure, the article itself was stupid, but the comments on /. were even worse! It was clear that not a single person posting on this site has any idea how Unicode works or why any of its design decisions were made.

  4. FULLTEXT search by Swamp · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm just looking forward to being able to tune the FULLTEXT search function without recompiling the database server!

    1. Re:FULLTEXT search by ekrout · · Score: 2

      But will the sequal to MySQL be as good as the original? ;-)

      --

      If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
    2. Re:FULLTEXT search by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, I've been using MySQL for probably a year now, and I was not aware of the FULLTEXT capability. What would I do without Slashdot? :)

  5. Reporting Tools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Universal Objects has also announced that their Unicode report server has been ported to Linux and is available now. Cheap, multilingual solutions might be what Linux needs for acceptance.. I belive we could beat Microsoft at the whole "total cost of ownership" game here.. What Unicode compliant database software is available free or cheap to use this with?

    1. Re:Reporting Tools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so what else is new?

  6. Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Wow! You mean MySQL is only two versions away from having 75% of the features of PostgreSQL? I'm amazed.

    1. Re:Wow! by gazbo · · Score: 1

      This parent is not a troll. Our company's software has a DB abstraction layer allowing us to write database drivers for any relational database.

      Except MySQL of course, because of its lack of nested queries. Perhaps we will be able to support MySQL when this newer version comes out - this will be a good thing, as it still holds the performance crown over Postgres (our current DB of choice).

    2. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Wow! You mean MySQL is only two versions away from having 75% of the features of PostgreSQL? I'm amazed.

      The above is not a troll, it is the truth. MySQL is junk compared with PostgreSQL. Why anyone would use it is beyond me.

    3. Re:Wow! by richieb · · Score: 1
      The above is not a troll, it is the truth. MySQL is junk [openacs.org] compared with PostgreSQL. Why anyone would use it is beyond me.

      Well, but MySQL is fast. It's the same reason why Sybase became popular. It was missing some important features (like row-level locks), but boy it was fast.

      This also shows you that most applications using dbs are not that complex - just updating one row at a time is fine.

      ...richie

      --
      ...richie - It is a good day to code.
    4. Re:Wow! by Nugget94M · · Score: 1, Flamebait
      This also shows you that most applications using dbs are not that complex - just updating one row at a time is fine.


      This use case is most certainly not fine in mysql, though, due to its refusal to support anything more granular than full table locks.


      It's difficult to take a platform seriously when the documentation makes silly rationalizations like "For large tables, table locking is MUCH better than row locking for most applications" which is about the silliest load of crap I've read since they pulled the paragraph from the mysql documentation that explained why you'd never want to use foreign keys (it was removed once mysql began supporting foreign keys).


      MySQL's main feature seems to be its immense popular support among people who haven't used any of the alternatives. Not a very compelling endoresement, if you ask me.

    5. Re:Wow! by Betcour · · Score: 1

      Well 1 year ago no one in his right mind would touch PostgreSQL as it was buggy and slow as hell. Now it has improved (but could improve some more...)

      At the same time MySQL was always rock solid and fast as hell but missing lots of features. They are improving on that too.

      In the end we only have two databases with radical different philosophies - one rich but bloated and one fast but poor. Both are overcoming their weak points. In the end they'll be pretty close in spead and functionnality...

    6. Re:Wow! by ravrazor · · Score: 2

      come on, moderators, this is NOT informative.
      Row-level locking is available in mysql by using a third-party table type...As are transactions, and page-level locking.

      you use what you need, and for a lot of people, they really don't need to use correlated subqueries, they don't mind replicating the functionality of a stored procedure in perl or php, and they really don't need a 5-digit price tag.
      MySQL's main feature seems to be its immense popular support among people who haven't used any of the alternatives.
      really? so yahoo and NASA don't know about alternatives to mysql?

      this is such total FUD...i really don't understand the motivation for everyone to tear down mysql based on these same objections and that damn phillip greenspun article.
      can't everyone just let people use the solution that fits their requirements?

    7. Re:Wow! by gazbo · · Score: 1

      Flamebait, yeah you're right. I stand corrected - I'd hardly call it a good troll though, no mention of O(n)NP complete VM algorithms, or kernel programming in VB.

      But maybe it is a good troll, after all since my reply to it (and someone else saying the same thing) it's been modded about 7 times, and its a vacuous little sentence...

    8. Re:Wow! by Decibel · · Score: 2
      Row-level locking is available in mysql by using a third-party table type [innodb.com]...As are transactions, and page-level locking.

      The point is that any organization that promotes ideas such as "table level locking is superior to row level locking because it's faster" obviously has little understanding of what kind of features are needed for a robust database. That kind of attitude raises all kinds of questions about everything from their high level design down to the code. Data integrity isn't something that you tack-on to a database engine as an afterthought, it's something that should be designed in from the start. Have they ever thought about things such as data integrity problems caused by re-ordered writes by the filesystem? Probably not because it's not much of an issue if you don't provide transactions. (Yes, I know there are 3rd party add-ons that provide transactions)

      It's encouraging to see 3rd parties adding sorely missing features to MySQL, but the point is that MySQL's developers should have at least realized what kind of things MySQL needs to be more than a glorified flat file handler. If they don't want to add these features that's their call, but it's a real disservice when they bash features they don't want to impliment because they see no use for them. If there was no use for them, then Oracle, IBM, Sybase, Microsoft, and countless other companies wouldn't have spent a lot of money developing them.

    9. Re:Wow! by Nugget · · Score: 2

      I don't think it's fair to characterize a third-party developer's efforts to compensate for a noticeably lacking feature in mysql as "Row-level locking is available in mysql", especially when the mysql documentation still goes out of its way to justify the reliance on table locks in the platform.

      The bottom line is, mysql lacks row-level locking. It's not in the product. Moreover, the mysql developers defend this omission and claim it was a conscious decision which they attempt to justify in the documentation.

      I'm pleased that the innodb folks have seen fit to try to overcome this liability in mysql, but let's not get carried away by describing it as a native feature.

    10. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      75% of what?

    11. Re:Wow! by tzanger · · Score: 2

      Well 1 year ago no one in his right mind would touch PostgreSQL as it was buggy and slow as hell.

      <cough>bullshit. I've never had stability problems on Postgres, and if you turned off fsync-after-every-write (default on) your performance was actually pretty decent. Postgres was (is) always faster than MySQL for any type of query other than straight SELECT x from y where [simple clause].

      At the same time MySQL was always rock solid and fast as hell but missing lots of features.

      <cough>more bullshit. We ran MySQL as the backend for a RADIUS server for our growing ISP about 12-18 months ago; it crashed regularly (MySQL, which took down RADIUS). We're now using Postgres for the backend and moved to GNU-RADIUSd and it's yet to die (the backend; the RADIUS server has an "every x months" bug that's hard to duplicate)... This is with 8x the load now, too.

      You're right though, two radically different philosphies. Postgres is an RDBMS; MySQL was an SQL interface to a flatfile/hashed system. I'm watching MySQL to see how these new changes (transactions and ACID-compliance in general) are going to affect it, but it's got a ways to go before trumping Postgres, or any other RDBMS for that matter.

  7. What's so major? by sonnik · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just started teaching myself a little bit about mySQL this evening. I'm already impressed by this example of open-source might...

    I don't see these as major changes, rather than just adding some features...

    1. Re:What's so major? by qabi · · Score: 1

      The mentioned features are part of making mySQL ACID complete (which is atill quite far away, I think).

      They are not easy to implement either.

      -qabi

    2. Re:What's so major? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ACID that PostgreSQL has supported for aeons.

    3. Re:What's so major? by StrawberryFrog · · Score: 2
      I'm already impressed by this example of open-source might.

      Might?? MySQL is still only for weenies. You wouldn't be at all impressed with it if you'd used a really functional Open-source Database like postgresSQL. I've used both and there's really no comparison.

      I don't see these as major changes, rather than just adding some features

      They aren't major changes, just adding some of the features that PostgreSQL has had for years.

      Why bother with MySQL?

      --

      My Karma: ran over your Dogma
      StrawberryFrog

    4. Re:What's so major? by bwalling · · Score: 1

      These are enormous changes. Stored procedures are extremely important, as are subqueries. I use both daily at work, and wouldn't think of doing without them.

    5. Re:What's so major? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If the changes aren't that major, then you are saying that the gap between the two products isn't that big. That those features of PostgreSQL that have been around for years aren't anything to shout about. So what's your big boohoo about?

      Is it that hard for you to imagine that the everyone else is getting along fine with what mySQL has to offer? I'm afraid that arguing this with you is like telling Trekkies that they need to get a life...they will still go on thinking that knowing the name of Spock's grandmother is important in life.

    6. Re:What's so major? by shagrat · · Score: 1

      I've found postgres to be nothing but a pain in the @$$.

    7. Re:What's so major? by tzanger · · Score: 2

      I've found postgres to be nothing but a pain in the @$$.

      Care to cite a few examples? I'm curious to see what has caused you so much grief. I've found a few things with Postgres which pained me but MySQL would have fallen flat on its face long before I'd have encountered the problems.

  8. More vapourware by sales_worldwide · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Slashdot strikes again. If this was Microsoft, you'd be criticising them for releasing vapouware. But it's MySQL/linux so it's cool huh?

    Get PostgresQL, a real DB. That already has all of these features, and rock solid too, not beta patches etc.

    --
    "Making linux GPL was the best thing I ever did" - Torvalds. I'd hate to see the worst thing...
    1. Re:More vapourware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If this was Microsoft, you'd be criticising them for releasing vapourware.

      No. If this was Microsoft, they'd be saying that this was "nothing new" (because SQL Server has done this since, oh, the dawn of time) and that it was "just a PR stunt" and "not innovative" (that old Slapdash crack).

      Because it's Linux, we're supposed to be amazed that a database could possible support STORED PROCEDURES!!!!!!!£$!£@! - how innovative can you get??!?!?!

    2. Re:More vapourware by mosch · · Score: 3, Flamebait
      A man that speaks the TRUTH! MySQL is a toy, no referential integrity, no CHECK constraints, no stored procedures. It's fast, but so is a JATO rocket attached to a bicycle. Only a fool would use MySQL for something where the data actually matters.

      For a good example of MySQL's performance under load, look at crash^Wslashdot, which probably averages two crashes a day or so, with 5 or 10 minutes down for each crash. As a man much smarter than me has said, slashdot does a wonderful job evangalizing Microsoft products.

    3. Re:More vapourware by ErikZ · · Score: 1

      Really? I'd like to see someone here implement slashcode with Microsoft SQL server. Then you can tell me how great MS is.

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
    4. Re:More vapourware by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What you're forgetting is that in many web-based applications, the data *doesn't matter* (not more than nightly backups will take care of, anyway). MySQL is perfect for a whole range of web-related work, and these new additions will make it even more useful.

      And in reply to the parent of the parent of this post, I really don't see how the term vaporware fits here. Sure, MySQL is a different class of database than (for example) Postgres, but that doesn't make it a useless product. Besides, at the rate MySQL is going these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they could be considered up to par with Postgres in a few years. If they can keep the speed up there while adding new features, the competition will have a hard time... well, competing.

      --
      -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
    5. Re:More vapourware by GooberToo · · Score: 3, Informative

      What you're forgetting is that in many web-based applications, the data *doesn't matter* (not more than nightly backups will take care of, anyway). MySQL is perfect for a whole range of web-related work, and these new additions will make it even more useful.

      Except that you are forgetting that multiple recently published scores indicate that MySQL really stinks for this type of work too unless it's ALL read only access. Once you start throwing writes into the mix, MySQL falls far behind. On top of that, MySQL also has concurrent access load issues too. This means it's not going to scale very well when lots of connections are asking for lots of differing types of data from lots of different tables. Yes, it's VERY fast for one or two people (or even a small handful) doing read only access, however, use it in an environment where there are even some writes in a highly loaded system, PstgreSQL is going to beat it, not just with a stick but a full blown Loui Slugger. Once you get into the world of having a large number of writes, MySQL becomes an utter joke as PostgreSQL has lots of optimizations to take advantage of this while MySQL just rolls into a ball and cries. Of course, I've also read lots stating the PostgreSQL's query optimizer is much more advanced, so once you start doing non-trivial queries, PostgreSQL is going to win again. This will be come significantly important once (if) MySQL starts supporting sub-queries.

      The point being, MySQL really isn't a great DB system after all. It may get there one day but the number of situations that it truely works well in and MySQL can address are actually very limited and nitche areas.

    6. Re:More vapourware by swillden · · Score: 2

      Get PostgresQL, a real DB. That already has all of these features, and rock solid too, not beta patches etc.

      I hope people continue to use MySQL. Usage will inspire the developers to continue hacking on it until it rivals and even surpasses PostgresQL. It's much better to have two high-quality open source databases than one. Competition is almost as important in the open source world as it is in traditional commerce, even if the dynamics are different. It can be argued that open source competition does even more to foster innovation because the development teams are free to lift ideas and even code from their rivals.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    7. Re:More vapourware by Quila · · Score: 2

      Yep, all of these people are using it, and many look like it's in places where the data matters. Lots of fools around, ... NASA, yahoo...

    8. Re:More vapourware by Computer! · · Score: 1

      Are you saying MSSQL server couldn't handle the complexity of Slashdot, the traffic of Slashdot or the storage requirements of Slashdot? No matter what, you're wrong. microsoft's own website gets more traffic in a half-hour than Slashdot does all day, and is more than a messageboard. If Slashdot used SQL Server, they would have native XML support in the database, fault-tolerant clustering, DRI, easier-to-schedule (and more reliable) backups, and horizontal partitioning of large datasets. Although I haven't looked at slashcode yet, if it uses SQL, then it can be implemented on SQL Server, probably without serious modification. NASDAQ uses MSSQL, so why couldn't Slashdot? If anything, maybe it would help improve the pitiful performance of this site.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    9. Re:More vapourware by Computer! · · Score: 1

      If you read further into those stories, you'll notice that Yahoo! only uses MySQL for portions of its read-only finance pages. NASA uses MySQL for contract bidding, something MSAccess could probably handle, and does for a lot of government offices. Not really as impressie as all that.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    10. Re:More vapourware by ErikZ · · Score: 1

      Talk is cheap. If someone is going to insinuate that the slashcode would work better with MSSQL, I want them to back it up. The only way to do that with database software is to implement it. There are far too many variables to predict the outcome.

      So, you come up and toss out a lot of technobabble. As you can tell, I'm not impressed.

      I'd bet that NASDAQ also uses DOS somewhere, why shouldn't you? You dare question the wisdom of NASDAQ!?

      Out of curiousity, how do you know Microsoft.com uses MSSQL?

      --
      Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
    11. Re:More vapourware by Computer! · · Score: 1

      I had a really good reply to this, with quotes from your post and everything, but , and I was unable to post it. I am not kidding.

      I used to work with some of the Microsoft guys in Edison, NJ.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    12. Re:More vapourware by _typo · · Score: 1
      What you're forgetting is that in many web-based applications, the data *doesn't matter*

      Slashdot's data does matter, it's a site that gets millions of visitors a day and should average at least 1000 posts a day. And those posts matter, and if they disapeer people will bitch about it!

      --

      Pedro Côrte-Real.

    13. Re:More vapourware by PONA-Boy · · Score: 1

      MSSQL is a database, like any other. We use it here in-house with a proprietary application as it's front end. We rely heavily upon stored procedures and little gadgets lik SQLmail.

      I cannot STAND MSSQL! Albeit (as I mentioned above) it is a database like any other, it is so friggin' expensive, so friggin' proprietary, and so friggin' inflexible that we will be STUCK with MSSQL until they run the flag up and put out everyone in little liferafts.

      All our network administration, monitoring, and helpdesk support is backended by MySQL. It is cheap (that's read FREE for the uninformed), rapidly deployed, and easily interfaced. I LOVE MySQL! It always works, it never needs to be rebooted or restarted or resurrected from the dead, and I can run it on just about ANY platform I've got available.

      When it comes right down to it, performance should NEVER be your determining factor on a database. It should be ONE of your factors, admittedly, but not the most important. Once in-place you are no longer "benchmarking" your db, you are SUPPORTING it. I enjoy seeing MySQL and Postgres improve and grow their feature set...they are still FREE!!!

      ...Don't EVEN get me started on the "easier, better, faster, safer" replication and backup!!!

      :::SHEESH:::

      -PONA-

      --
      +that's funny...I don't FEEL tardy.+
    14. Re:More vapourware by Computer! · · Score: 1

      When it comes right down to it, performance should NEVER be your determining factor on a database.

      Unless performance is one of your application requirements, and then all that free-ness doesn't really matter.

      You think MSSQL is expensive? Try Oracle on for size. Or DB2. Or a mainframe DB like Image. You'd shit your drawers if you saw an invoice for one of those licensing packages. Oracle is probably about 20 times more expensive for the average installation.

      Proprietary? You mean, closed-source, right? Well, duh. Microsoft would like to make their investors a little happier than Red Hat has made theirs. If you mean not based on open standards, then you're mostly wrong. SQL is a standard, and XML is all over MSSQL. Inflexible? How can an RDBMS be inflexible? You can write extended stored procedures in C++, or even write your own functions! You don't have to be stuck with it, just don't use sp_sendmail, and all the other "gadgets". That was a poor design decision by your developers. You can't blame MS for providing it as a feature in the mid nineties, or continuing to support it.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    15. Re:More vapourware by CrackWilding · · Score: 1

      Slashdot's data does matter, it's a site that gets millions of visitors a day and should average at least 1000 posts a day.

      Depends on your definition of matter. Your post, for example, does not matter.

      --

      Visit sunny Knowumsayin.com, home of the pork shirt.

  9. MySQL other database comparison by Secure42 · · Score: 4, Informative

    It sounds great, MySQL it is trying to implement many features that were missed without loosing speed.
    You can have a look to these comparison between Mysql-PostgreSQL and other open source databases.

    1. Re:MySQL other database comparison by vendull · · Score: 1
      A decent comparision page.

      I dont know about MySQL/SAP/Interbase, but I do know that PostgreSQL v7.1.x *does* have SSL support if compiled with it. So that item is incorrect in the table.

      Also, the table lists that postgresql has replication capabilities via erserver. This is only sort of true. Erserver is an asynchronous replication system, which is probably less than ideal. There are several replication projects going on for PgSQL right now (see here), but its most likely that WAL logs will somehow be used in the long run to provide real replication capabilities to PgSQL.

    2. Re:MySQL other database comparison by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

      The table is obviously old. MySQL already has transactions and foreign keys - items that are also wrong in the table.

      --

      +++ATH0

    3. Re:MySQL other database comparison by noweb4u · · Score: 1

      They forgot to mention under mysql transaction support that you can use InnoDB for transactions. I just got it all running about 5 minutes ago, and I'm kinda impressed :-) I have heard good things but have never actually tried it until right now. That page also however looks like it's cut and pasted out of MySQL's comparison page and some other reference. In fact I see verbatim copy and pastes... Not too bad of a reference, if you ignore some inaccuracies.

  10. Stored Procedures! Yay by serps · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Excellent. One of the reasons my company decided to hold off on porting to mysql was the lack of stored procedures. A pity; now they've moved to DB2 and the moment is lost.

    --
    "Einstein argued that [...] God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software engineer." ~ Brooks
    1. Re:Stored Procedures! Yay by oingoboingo · · Score: 2

      We've just done exactly the same thing. I miss MySQL's overall simplicity...it makes it really easy to develop quickly. after 6 momths of using DB2, i still feel like it's more in the way than actually helping me get the app developed.

      there's no way we can go back now either...we're an IBM strategic partner (but the upside of that is we get nice hardware to play with for free...where's the Regatta?)

  11. Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Khazunga · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Does anyone know of a good comparison of both databases? Not the usual "X as feature A, while Y has not. Y is faster.". These are open-source products, so there's room for design analysis, not just the ZDNet style checklists... There's room to review the design and implementation decisions. This would ideally involve established members of both dev communities.

    What I'd like to see is a profound comparison of mysql and postgresql. I'm a happy user of both, and I currently have pgsql serving a 8 million pageviews/month site, and handling load gracefully. AFAICare, pgsql is at least fast enough. I also never had any reliability/data loss problems with mysql, despite heavy concurrent access. AFAICare, mysql is robust enough. I'd really like to find out what are the core differences in both designs to get a grasp of how fast they may evolve.

    --
    If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you
    1. Re:Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ok you can have a look to these comparisons: -http://www.mysql.com/doc/M/y/MySQL-PostgreSQL_fea tures.html -http://www.geocities.com/mailsoftware42/db/ -http://www.mmlabx.ua.es/mysql-postgres.html (Spanish) -http://openacs.org/philosophy/why-not-mysql.html -http://phd.pp.ru/Software/SQL/PostgreSQL-vs-MySQL .html -http://www.mysql.com/information/crash-me.php

    2. Re:Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ok you can have a look to these comparisons:
      -http://www.mysql.com/doc/M/y/MySQL-PostgreSQL_fea tures.html
      -http://www.geocities.com/mailsoftware42/db/
      -http://www.mmlabx.ua.es/mysql-postgres.html (Spanish)
      -http://openacs.org/philosophy/why-not-mysql.html
      -http://phd.pp.ru/Software/SQL/PostgreSQL-vs-MySQL .html
      -http://www.mysql.com/information/crash-me.php

    3. Re:Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Khazunga · · Score: 2, Informative

      Moderators, please read before moderating. This AC posted a bunch of uselesse links. They're either biased (from the manuals of pgsql or mysql), or zdnet-like checklists, mostly outdated.

      --
      If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you
    4. Re:Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Crashme tests are hardly "biased"
      (I am yet another ac by-the-way...)

    5. Re:Decent comparison of mysql and pgsql by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not only are they useless, they were posted twice, and highly moderated twice. I can only assume Redundant an Informative are very close together.

  12. Um, transactions anyone? by FastT · · Score: 2, Informative

    Another Open Source debacle. They add gobs of new features while leaving the most fundamental and important feature untouched (again). Feh.

    Go ahead, flame away, I can take it.

    --

    The only certainty is entropy.
    1. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by rycamor · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Eh...? MySQL has had transactions for several releases now. I know, it's not available for all table types... :-( (InnoDB, BerkelyDB tables...)

      To me, the fundamental feature missing is foreign key constraint, which I see is not even mentioned among the new features.

    2. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Osty · · Score: 2, Insightful

      With the introduction of the Berkely DB table type, MySQL gained transactional support. It'd be nice to have native transactions for all table types, but at least this is better than nothing at all. Of course, if you want to complain about useful-but-missing features, complain about decent stored procedure support (coming, but the keyword here is "decent" -- if they only support one language, like perl, then it becomes useless), foreign keys, subselects (apparently coming in 4.1), and triggers. Of course, the way the MySQL project seems to be going, they're going to end up reinventing the wheel originally designed by Oracle 20+ years ago, while steadfastly denying that the missing functionality is useful up until the point where they announce that they'll be adding said functionality.

    3. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Osty · · Score: 3, Informative

      To me, the fundamental feature missing is foreign key constraint, which I see is not even mentioned among the new features.

      Exactly! Take a look at http://www.mysql.com/doc/B/r/Broken_Foreign_KEY.ht ml and see why they don't have foreign key support yet. They simply say it's scheduled for inclusion in the "near future" (I'm not sure what their definition of "near" is, but that page has been up for months now, and foreign key support still isn't slated for 4.0 or 4.1). Don't hold your breath, and either switch to a real rdbms (a la pgsql), or continue to work around mysql's deficiencies on an app-by-app basis.

    4. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Secure42 · · Score: 1

      Since version 3.23.* you can use BDB tables (Berkeley Database table type) which support transactions.

    5. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No foreign key constraint?! Jesus, what DOES this thing do? Save and load flat files from a disk? I'm not surprised it's fast, it must be about 20 lines of code!

    6. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 2, Informative

      Just a note about this: If you are using InnoDB, you will get foreign key support in MySQL 3.23.44 and 4.0.1.

      For other table types, we will add full foreign key support for 4.1.

      People that find cascaded delete very useful, will proably also like the new multi-table delete feature we arlready have in MySQL 4.0

      Regards,
      Monty

    7. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oracle? 20+ years ago? You know nothing of Oracle's history. Check your facts.

    8. Re:Um, transactions anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      did you really use it?
      try it under heavy loaded, you will find truth.
      it's cheat.

  13. Why MySQL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, why ? Mysql is a very popular free sql database system , and I still have problems figuring out why.
    It supports almost none of the sql features I need. The solution to my needs(which includes free/opensource) is PostgreSQL,
    which do supports the features i require(subqueries, locking, stored procedures,views,triggers,other _real_ nice features..).
    One point that often comes up is that mysql is very fast, and it is fast, but atleast for my projects only silghtly faster than postgresql(2-4%),
    and in many special cases posgresql is way faster.
    Also the point of mysql beeing very fast disappears if you use the locking features of mysql, BDB/Innodb tables.
    For me, its postgres over mysql anytime.

    1. Re:Why MySQL ? by pere · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The answer is "because it does the job".

      Most small projects does not need transactions, subqueries or locking. And to really take advantages of such features you need to have some good understanding of databases.

      With mySQL you can actually make fearly decent, fearly fast and fearly stable application without using hours trying to design things optimal, (and actually without not really understanding what you are doing.)

      If you worry about +2-4 percent performance, how to handle peeks of hundreds of hits a second... then you have several good databases to choose from.

      If you should store a few thousand posts, and are hoping for a few hundred hits a day, and your web-application had deadline yesterday, and you are aout to start developing (90% of the web-application of today).... mySQL is a killer!

      (You can use it for other things as well. And it does scale fairly well (so Im told)... but then you should consider several other good databases..like PostreSQL)

    2. Re:Why MySQL ? by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I partialy agree wit this, but I would never base any application of mine on something as incomplete as MySQL (I too use PostgreSQL). Why do you ask? Simple. Who knows how large your project will get, or what substantial new features you will want to incorperate in the future. You may never need locking, but subqueries? C'mon, that is basic stuff. Sure you can get around needing them, but its a big pain in the butt and ends up being much moe inefficient. This is why I alays stick with the best product first, to leave my opions open, and won't have to re-do everything from scratch when I switch from MySQL (non SQL-92 standard) to any other DB.

    3. Re:Why MySQL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I totally agree that if it does the job, its ok.
      However, from painful experience, one often dont
      know the exact requirements of a project, or one
      dont know how it will evolve. If it was based on
      mysql you may face limitations in the future. If
      you used another dbms you might get an easier job.

      And thats where postgresql came in, I vaguely
      heard about it, and decided to install and try it.
      And i was happy, itwas just as easy as mysql, both
      to install, use and administer.
      To me it seems like mysql are beeing used beaues
      its the big thing/buzzword, or they havnt heard
      about anything else(except Oracle).
      Do yourself a favour and use postgres from the
      beginning.

    4. Re:Why MySQL ? by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

      Because it is fast.
      Because it does the job.
      Becasue it is popular and well supported by the community.
      Because it is "out there", people see others using mysql and end up using the same.

      I for one like MySQL. I dont need subqueries for a simple website, and I sure as hell don't need transactions for it.

      --

      +++ATH0

    5. Re:Why MySQL ? by GigsVT · · Score: 1

      How about deleting columns? Such a hassle in postgres.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    6. Re:Why MySQL ? by kaisyain · · Score: 1

      Why not just use Berkeley db?

    7. Re:Why MySQL ? by GooberToo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Because it is fast.

      Cough, cough. It depends. This by far is not an accurate statement without lots of qualifiers. To make it so, you'd need to quantify many of your project's environmental conditions. I'm assuming all of your projects are 100% readonly.

      Because it does the job.

      The same way MS Access "does the job", only, the Jet database is more advanced. Simply put, if you wouldn't use a Jet Database for your project, MySQL should not be used either. I'm serious. Any project you start and need to select a database, ask your self if you'd use a JetDB here. If the answer is, "no", then walk right on past MySQL too.

      Becasue it is popular and well supported by the community. Because it is "out there", people see others using mysql and end up using the same.

      That's true. I think if you look around, you'll find, to a slightly lesser degree, PostgreSQL is "out there" and being used by real live people too. There are books for it too and the community is pretty strong.

      I for one like MySQL. I dont need subqueries for a simple website, and I sure as hell don't need transactions for it.

      I always get confused when I hear people say this. If this is truely the case then you'd almost always better off NOT using any type of relational database at all. There's no point. Subqueries are faster, help ensure the validity of the result sets that you work with (dataset could change between the two queries you issue trying to work around this issue on MySQL). And, if you don't need transactions, locking, ref. integ. and your are only updating a single row in a single table or reading a single row from a single table, why are you using a relational database to begin with? It's much too slow compared to your options here.

    8. Re:Why MySQL ? by sql*kitten · · Score: 2

      I was going to post a well reasoned reply to this, but, hmm, about 1/2 hr ago I couldn't log into /., and all the non-static pages were just taking me back to the front page. Hmm, that couldn't be because MySQL crashed (again) could it?

    9. Re:Why MySQL ? by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1
      I always get confused when I hear people say this. If this is truely the case then you'd almost always better off NOT using any type of relational database at all.

      Yes there is - ease of use and consistency in a storage interface. Besides, no flat file offers the features MySQL offers in terms of data retrieval.

      MySQL is a great tool for what it is - a very easy data storage and retrieval utility. I wouldn't dream of using it when I need a real enterprise level relational database, but for small websites it is just great.

      --

      +++ATH0

    10. Re:Why MySQL ? by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

      Why not use ?

      Because MySQL does the job just fine. Why would I want to use Berkely DB? (Is that the same berkely db mysql supports?)

      --

      +++ATH0

    11. Re:Why MySQL ? by GlowStars · · Score: 1

      Most small projects does not need transactions, subqueries or locking. And to really take advantages of such features you need to have some good understanding of databases.

      Lame excuse. Even SQLite
      does transactions.

    12. Re:Why MySQL ? by FatHogByTheAss · · Score: 1
      Most small projects does not need transactions, subqueries or locking. And to really take advantages of such features you need to have some good understanding of databases.

      Implying that people choose MySQL because they don't have a good understanding of RDBMS systems. And I'd agree. If they did, they would know that most "small projects" do indeed have some need for transactions, subqueries, or locking, but they just don't know it, until it's too late.

      --

      --
      You sure got a purty mouth...

    13. Re:Why MySQL ? by horza · · Score: 2

      This is a poor way of working. You should work out from the start how large your project is going to get and the functions you are going to need then pick the best tool for the job. You can _then_ future-proof the application as much as possible, for instance using database wrappers to make the code DB independant. Also, if you start on something that is _missing_ features then porting to a compatiable-language application with _extra_ features should mean NO rewriting of code. From your "I'm going to install the best possible no matter what the expense just in case" attitude I bet you were a hit during the dot-com boom :-P

      Phillip.

    14. Re:Why MySQL ? by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 1

      MySQL has had transactions and locking for a long time already.

      The reason we have left subqueries out until now has mainly been that MySQL users have had higher demands for other features than these.

      Regards,
      Monty

    15. Re:Why MySQL ? by ethereal · · Score: 1

      If you just want it to be fast and simple, Berkeley is probably faster than MySQL and it is truly ACID. If you want your DB to be relational, though, Berkeley's not for you.

      --

      Your right to not believe: Americans United for Separation of Church and

    16. Re:Why MySQL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is happening more and more often, disturbingly so. This usually means the db crashed or locked up and had to be hard-restarted, and all indexes checked and rebuilt (as in, you don't have a transaction system and you're fucked for half an hour while they're rebuilt).

      Also, frequently I can't even connect to the web server, which means the servers are being rebooted, a simple httpd restart doesn't last several minutes, I don't care how complicated the config.

    17. Re:Why MySQL ? by FatHogByTheAss · · Score: 1
      MySQL has had transactions and locking for a long time already.

      You mean, if I want forign keys and transactions at the same time, I can get that?

      Oh.

      And what happens to that vaunted "speed" when I use locking?

      Oh.

      Its a toy. Apparently a fast toy, in a very narrow range of applications, but a toy none the less.

      --

      --
      You sure got a purty mouth...

    18. Re:Why MySQL ? by Computer! · · Score: 1

      "You should work out from the start how large your project is going to get[...]"

      I bet you're a hit during design meetings. Analysis paralysis, anyone? The fact is, professional software engineers have no idea how big their products are going to get (i.e. Linux, DBase, Mosaic). That's because they are not the customers. Other people are, and can add a feature at a whim. Then we have to figure out how to make it work. That's our job. If the DB system you choose because /. said it was cool isn't up to the task, it's not your job anymore. That's because you get fired.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    19. Re:Why MySQL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude! We got some Sun Sparc somethings with 16 CPUs and 2gig RAM per box and 1000mbps network with a load balancer ... my freaking lemonade stand is gonna ROCK!

    20. Re:Why MySQL ? by rmello · · Score: 1

      Monty,

      One year must be "a long time" for you. Also, beta features of a third-party add-on module must mean "good enough for usage" for you.

      And "MySQL has had transactions" must be like your statement in the MySQL manual, where you said that MySQL would have "Atomic Operations without rollback". Or another one of your statements "you can achieve atomic operations by using LOCK TABLE".

      Wow, with such statements from you, I feel very inclined to believe other statements of yours, and use every database you touch.

      You should write a book. Lots of "PC Magazine" readers would buy it.

    21. Re:Why MySQL ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, reverse that...it's the same berkely db that supports MySQL

  14. Mysql is ace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    1. Microsoft Access is more functional, easier to use and deploy than MySQL.

    More functional? I could explain theoretically why that statement is utterly ludicrous, but I'll merley give a practical example:

    A big British financial organisation maintained internally, its publicly available financial data in Access. I wrote a system for them, using GNU/Linux, MySQL and mod_perl, which allowed web visitors do perform complex searches on this data. The internally-maintained big Access dataset was imported into the MySQL datbase via an import system I wrote for them. Now here's the interesting thing - they began to realise that the web-based system, even over an ISDN line, returned data substantially more quickly and reliably than did Access, even after they upgraded to the (ACID compliant) SQL server! Indeed, the latter constantly corrupted their data, would get into all sorts of unremovable row-locks and god knows what else in its attempt to remain beautifully ACIDic. Eventually, they ditched it and now use my system (with a content management client they've had written which accesses MySQL via myODBC). They've been using this for just under three years now, and there has not been, cumulatively, even one minute's downtime.

    1. Re:Mysql is ace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      C'mon, this is the most ludicrously inflated anecdote I've ever heard. If the app had problems with SQL Server, 99.9% chance it was because the developers didn't know what the hell they were doing once they had a real database. And as for 3 years without one minute of downtime...puhleeze!

    2. Re:Mysql is ace by DNAGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, but MySQL doesn't have the paperclip, does it? Nuff said. :)

      --

      BRENT ROCKWOOD, EST'd 1975

    3. Re:Mysql is ace by GroovBird · · Score: 1

      Well it seems your view is a bit biased by your personal experience with MySQL. Do note however, that MySQL does not support referential integrity, which is perhaps not needed for 'publicly available financial information' as such information must not be updated by the end users, but is a serious necessity for a lot of financial applications, among others.

      Dave

    4. Re:Mysql is ace by Red+Avenger · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You speak as if you know a lot about MySQL and thats great. It sounds to me that you aren't as familiar with SQL server and as such will trash it now. We have a guy at work who does the same thing. Anything made by MS is instantly crapware not fit for anyone. Problem is this guy is a server administrator who is in love with linux.
      We are a windows shop and he does everything in his power to push linux over windows always saying snide comments. He doesn't even take the time to learn how to use it properly. Anything will be better if you don't give it a chance. But if its your job to administer the servers. Shouldn't you at least do a good job? If I take money from someone to do a job I owe it to that person to give them good service. Is this different in the Open Source crowd?

    5. Re:Mysql is ace by On+Lawn · · Score: 1

      from his story it looks like he had nothing to do with the SQL server's that failed. It lools like they switched to his becuase it worked.

    6. Re:Mysql is ace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      Yeh but come on Access is shite

    7. Re:Mysql is ace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So is MySQL.

    8. Re:Mysql is ace by scrytch · · Score: 2

      Jet sucks, I agree wholeheartedly. But MS Access can now use MS SQL Server databases for its backend, and it comes with MSDE, the db engine for MS SQL Server. It's crippled to only perform 5 concurrent operations (it serializes them after that), and your db size is limited to 2 gigs, but you otherwise get the full db backend. Then compare MSSQL2k's pricing to Oracle or Sybase when you do want to upgrade your backend. Access has raised the bar significantly here... I can't see using Access as anything but a front-end though. I think you and the original poster are comparing apples and oranges.

      --
      I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
    9. Re:Mysql is ace by Malcontent · · Score: 2

      I don't know about mysql but I have used postgres and SQL server pretty extensively. I much prefer postgres. First of all lock escalation is just a bitch. Sometimes entire tables get locked out I have have to tell people to log out of their desktops to clear the locks. Sometimes you can't even do that and you have to stop the service and restarted it (kicking everybody out).
      Postgres has a kick ass rule subsystem whereby you can make any view writable. Postgres allows you to write your own aggregate functions which allow you to do funky things with text fields. Postgres has unlimited row sizes and unlimited text fields (pretty much). Postgres let's you choose which language you want to write your stored procedures in (perl, python, pg/sql or C) all of which are vastly superior to transact-sql.
      I could go on and on. If you ask me postgres is much better then ms-sql server.

      --

      War is necrophilia.

    10. Re:Mysql is ace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      Heh, you could easily be describing me, and I bet some MS junkies at my office have said the same things about me. Truth is, I lived with Microsoft for over a decade, I've written assembler programs that had to deal with MSDOS function calls back in the day, I wrote software for Windows and 95, and NT. I've used almost every major product they've ever come out with, be at OS, an end-user application, a database server, or whatever. At this point, I don't feel any need to investigate or give a chance to any MS product. They are crap by default. I will not use them. Beyond just being crap, I believe every product MS releases regresses the advancement of computer science noticeably. Anyone who makes a statement like you just did about giving MS products a chance is automatically filed into my brain as someone without much of a clue, no personal offense intended.

    11. Re:Mysql is ace by Red+Avenger · · Score: 1

      I don't get it what do you mean? Can you dumb that down a little bit for me?

    12. Re:Mysql is ace by On+Lawn · · Score: 1

      The contractors built (or wizard installed) SQL Server `A' which was crappy on Access. Even migrate to a more enterprise solution from the same vendor and still but its still problematic.
      He built server 'B' that was meant to fill a minor roll.
      In time the contractors move their tasks on to working server `B' with his help.

      Slashdot poster accuses him of messing up Server `A'.

    13. Re:Mysql is ace by Red+Avenger · · Score: 1

      So then B wants A's job?

    14. Re:Mysql is ace by On+Lawn · · Score: 2

      Well there are two choices

      Friz `A'

      Friz `B'

      Which would you choose?

    15. Re:Mysql is ace by Red+Avenger · · Score: 1

      That depends on why B works and A doesn't. If they are both capable of working and I already paid for A I would use that. If A doesn't work at all then I wasted my money and would have to go with B.

    16. Re:Mysql is ace by On+Lawn · · Score: 2

      I choose `B' also. Given the time frame and migration involved after time they would eventually ultimate Friz `B'.

  15. You should have gone to PostgreSQL by Bistronaut · · Score: 2, Informative

    I can tell already that this is going to be a flame war, but here are my two cents: PostgreSQL has stored procedures, unicode support, transactions, triggers, rules, and all sorts of other goodies! In fact, there is precious little that PostgreSQL doesn't have. I am using it for several projects at work, and I love it. It's great that MySQL is adding features, but it has a lot of catching up to do.

    1. Re:You should have gone to PostgreSQL by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2
      In fact, there is precious little that PostgreSQL doesn't have.
      I'll tell you what PostgresSQL doesn't have compared to DB2, for example. IBM.
      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    2. Re:You should have gone to PostgreSQL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IBM
      UBM
      We all BM
      for IBM

    3. Re:You should have gone to PostgreSQL by King+Babar · · Score: 2
      In fact, there is precious little that PostgreSQL doesn't have.
      I'll tell you what PostgresSQL doesn't have compared to DB2, for example.

      IBM.

      Yup, there's no doubt about it.A major sticking point in the adoption of truly enterprise-wide free software like PostgreSQL (or mySQL) is the fact that there is *any* risk factor involved in the support arrangements. IBM, like it or not, is just not going to go away. I don't think that, say, Red Hat will go away either, but their support for PostgreSQL in its incarnation as the official Red Hat Database system is more questionable. After all, Great Bridge was (alas) unable to stay in business by doing PostgreSQL development and support contracts.

      It is a wonderful thing that Open Source products do provide you with the source, but in situations where you have a major league database system that controls all your customer accounts, and you have a problem that has to get solved *today*...this isn't really a niche that is well covered yet for all Open Source products.

      --

      Babar

    4. Re:You should have gone to PostgreSQL by Nicopa · · Score: 1

      Look! Other thing DB/2 hasn't! A ten letter name!

    5. Re:You should have gone to PostgreSQL by Decibel · · Score: 2

      Having delt a lot with IBM DB2 support, I can tell you that it's a very sharp double-edged sword. Yes, you can get product support (for a rather expensive price), but it's honestly not very good. In fact I'd say it's really bad in the cases where you really need it, such as when a production system is crashing or doing other things that make no sense.

      Also, if linux is super-important to you, be aware that DB2 on linux isn't up to production quality yet (unless you throw massive amounts of hardware at it, and even then it's marginal). It appears IBM is still learning the linux ropes. Support for DB2 on linux also isn't as good as on other OS's, from what I've heard. (It's certainly not as good as on AIX, which is what we now run DB2 on, but that's no surprise ;) ). I can't say db2's performance or stability on windows is all that great either. If you must go with x86 hardware for your database, then you should probably look at MSSQL or maybe Oracle.

      Also, while I haven't looked at PostgresSQL, they'd be very hard pressed to do a worse job on documentation than DB2.

  16. PosgreSQL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    I can't understand why anyone would use MySQL when PostgreSQL is more free and without doubt far technically superior, even speed-wise PostgreSQL is faster; as of the 7.1 release.

    1. Re:PosgreSQL by Betcour · · Score: 1

      is more free

      Please define what is "more free". MySQL cost exactly 0.00 $. The source is available for anyone to use, compile and modify at will. That's all that matters to me.

    2. Re:PosgreSQL by spauldo · · Score: 1

      PosgreSQL is more free?

      MySQL doesn't (I'm pretty sure anyway) have the old windows licensing scheme anymore (used to be GPL for UNIX, pay for windoze). They do offer different licensing schemes if you want to pay for them (for various reasons, including the fact that there's no warrantee under the GPL) but the default license is GPL.

      --
      Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't teach either, do tech support.
    3. Re:PosgreSQL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We turned PostgreSQL into a ntier solution that we don't have to hand out the source to unless it suits us, that way we can make money without worry of freeloaders and still submit patches to PostgreSQL.
      With MySQL we do not have the freedom to incorperate it into a closed source solution because of the GPL, so 25 years of mainframe development and billions of dollars would go down the drain when other companies could just rip us off.

      I know you hate closed source, but it keeps food on my table and that's a freedom I like to have.

    4. Re:PosgreSQL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the world of opensource and free software,
      free means not $0, but freedom. Freedom to do things.
      MySQL uses the GPL licence while Postgres have
      a BSD'ish licence. The diffrence is big.
      Though it maybe dont matter to you, it matters
      to *many* others.

    5. Re:PosgreSQL by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Hi! I agree that PostgreSQL has some fetatures that MySQL also has, but it's also true that MySQL has a lot of features that PostgreSQL doesn't have.
      To not have to repeat myself over and over again, I have collected some information about this topic here

      Speedwise I haven't seen any indication that PostgreSQL 7.1 would generally be faster than MySQL. All the tests I have myself run shows that it there is no big speed improvment between earlier PostgreSQL version and 7.1, if you run both with flushing of data disabled. (We will soon publish the results on our benchmark page)

      For many applications, MySQL is in practice at least 3 times faster than PostgreSQL 7.1. If you applications needs the extra speed MySQL can give, PostgreSQL is not an option.

      According to what I know, the InnoDB transaction handling engine in MySQL is at least as good as the PostgreSQL transaction engine. (I would argue that is even better, as you never have to run a 'vacuum' on InnoDB!)

      My simple message is that both MySQL and PostgreSQL has a place. One can't generally say which is better, in the same way you can't say if a hammer or a screw driver is the right tool, if you don't know what it should be used for. For a lot of real world applications, MySQL is simple the best choice. The same is true for PostgreSQL.

      Regards, Monty
      CTO of MySQL AB

  17. Don't feed the troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're a pathetic troll.

  18. The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am quite frightened when i see people still using MySQL ...

    Ok, it's a nice database but it lacks from major steps :

    - fast and decent transactions
    - procedures
    - triggers
    - views ... (AFAIR there is no views)

    Why do not people user alternative database such as PostgreSQL or Interbase ?

    For instance insterbase and its sister projects (IB Phoenix : http://www.ibphoenix.org/ , FireBird: http://firebird.sourceforge.net , ...)

    The basic specs of interbase are :
    - full SQL92 compliant (entry level)
    - not fully SQL99 compliant

    For instance you have :

    - fast transactions
    - super fast blob/clob feature
    - procedure (full SQL92 here!!!)
    - trigger
    - strucutred data types
    - JDBC2.0 driver (type 4 JDBC3.0 is underway ...)
    - cool tools (admin, major crash fix and recovery stuffs ...)
    - easy data deployment (thru .gdb files)

    Under linux there are 2 architecture, the classical server and the super server (cf the docs).

    There are also cool and nice free GUI admin tools such as IBAccess:
    http://sourceforge.net/projects/ibaccess/

    All these stuffs are opensourced and free (as in beer) !

    No more hesitation ... go for a powerfull database ;-)

    1. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Colin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I use MySQL for one of my web based applications, and I use Oracle for others. For the one I use MySQL for, I chose it because:

      - It's easy to run.
      I don't have to do much (if any) maintenance and management - I don't need to check if redo logs are too small, don't need to check for extents growing out of control etc.

      - It's fast.
      For my application - with simple inserts and deletes, MySQL is really quick. That saves me money - I can get away with a single processor Linux box for my database server, rather than something much more expensive.

      - I don't need the features of a larger database.
      I'm using MySQL to store and retrive information - basically a distributed file system. I don't need clever locking, transactions, views, foreign keys, triggers, stored procedures. On the applications I do need those features, I use Oracle.

      - It's cheap
      I looked at PostgreSQL, but it was going to take me a while to figure out how to get it set up - I find MySQL very easy to install and get running. Oracle was going to be very expensive - and it's not that easy to install and get running properly.
      When you add in the costs of installation, learning how the software behaves, and the management time in keeping the software running, MySQL (for me) came out as the most cost effective option.

      Colin.

    2. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by m_ilya · · Score: 1
      I am quite frightened when i see people still using MySQL ...

      Ok, it's a nice database but it lacks from major steps :

      - fast and decent transactions
      - procedures
      - triggers
      - views ... (AFAIR there is no views)

      --

      --
      Ilya Martynov (http://martynov.org/)

    3. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by m_ilya · · Score: 3, Insightful
      I am quite frightened when i see people still using MySQL ...

      Ok, it's a nice database but it lacks from major steps :

      - fast and decent transactions
      - procedures
      - triggers
      - views ... (AFAIR there is no views)

      First of all MySQL does has robust transactions. InnoDB's table type really rocks. Probably it is not very stable yet (there was found some problems with blobs some time ago) but it becomes better and better.

      As for procedures and triggers and all other simular stuff. I wonder if it is really important to have it. I've seen some projects with heavy usage of procedures, triggers and other stuff. All busness logic of applications was implemented by them. It was very unmaintanable. IMHO more powerfull approach is three-tear architecture where middle layer (outside database) implements all busness logic itself.

      IMHO procedures are often overused. Probably they are required sometimes but only sometimes. If you think you need them than rethink you design. Maybe all logic you are going to implement with them should be implemented in middle layer?

      --

      --
      Ilya Martynov (http://martynov.org/)

    4. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by brunes69 · · Score: 2

      What about sub-selects??? can't believe its taken this long for MySQL to get something as simple as sub-selects. Sure you can code around them, bu it's a pain in the ass and is much more inefficient.

    5. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by chris.bitmead · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why do you imply that postgresql is hard to setup?
      It's very easy, a piece of cake. So you don't
      need the features of postgresql. Does it hurt to
      have them on hand if you need them in the future?

    6. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Colin · · Score: 1

      Why do you imply that postgresql is hard to setup? It's very easy, a piece of cake.
      Maybe I worded that wrong: I didn't mean to imply that postgresql is hard to setup - I meant that I found it difficult to install, when I was making the database decision a couple of years ago. I spent a morning trying to get it to work, and failed - which reflects much more on my (lack of) knowledge of PostgreSQL than the product itself.

      So you don't need the features of postgresql. Does it hurt to have them on hand if you need them in the future?
      No, unless they get in the way - which in this case they did. This particular application is very self contained - I'm never going to need the other features. When I process the data, I move it into another database (Oracle) and then I've got all the features I need - such as materialized views, transportable tablespaces, cube queries, bitmapped indexes.
    7. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Luminous · · Score: 2

      Perhaps this is my complete ignorance in regards to alternatives to mySQL, but my webhost and many other webhosts already have it set up with rather easy access.

      Do I have the option to load in an alternative? Or should I take the time and energy it would take to do that to learn and understand the limitations of mySQL.

      --
      This is not the way to build a lasting empire.
    8. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by 21mhz · · Score: 4, Funny
      IMHO more powerfull approach is three-tear architecture

      Ah, these freudian slips...

      --
      My exception safety is -fno-exceptions.
    9. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      My company is currently trying to decide between MySQL and PostgreSQL, with the latter being the likely choose.

      We're currently using Interbase, and I have to say that it's the biggest pile of fetid horror I've ever had the displeasure of having to maintain. Why?

      • First off, you have to specify the exact path of the database file on the remote machine. That is, you can't connect to database FOO on host BAR - you have to connect to /var/databases/FOO.gdb. Heaven help you if you ever change your directory layout and run multiple applications against the same server.
      • The command line client, isql, is awful. It has no supports whatsoever for readline-esque features such as command history, or even deleting the previous character. Standard procedure is to type queries in a text editor and then paste them into the isql shell.
      • A nice feature we discovered: suspending the isql client with ^Z will lock the server until you foreground the client process again. We were NOT amused to discover this: "HEY! THE $#!*(@# SERVER IS FROZEN AGAIN! WTF?!?!?"
      • We've experienced several (!!!) cases of database corruption where we were completely unable to recover any data inserted into a database after that point.
      • AFAIK, no equivalent of mysqldump exists for Interbase. At least, I was unable to find one when I critically needed it (see previous point). I eventually hacked one up in Perl that works OK for our needs, but that still rather surprised me. AFAIK (yes, twice in one post! :), you can only back up the binary database to another binary file. BTW, my boss gave me permission to release my backup tool under the GPL. Email me if interested.


      The only reason that we're using the much-despised database server is that our rather largish apps are written against it, and it will take a bit of effort to change. Also, given the lack of the SQL dump utility (other than the hack job I put together), getting information from Interbase to anything else is non-trivial.

      It may be good in theory, and I'm sure that some people like it. For us, however, Interbase is completely undependable and just barely usable for routine tasks.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
    10. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by FatHogByTheAss · · Score: 1
      I'm using MySQL to store and retrive information - basically a distributed file system.



      I know this may seem like a radical idea, but did you consider using your file systems for this?

      --

      --
      You sure got a purty mouth...

    11. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by dhogaza · · Score: 2

      PostgreSQL isn't easy to install and get running properly? RH and Mandrake, at least, will install it for you when you install Linux. Automatically. Set it up so it starts up when you boot up and dies gracefully when you shutdown.

      It doesn't get any easier than that.

      PostgreSQL is *simple* to run and *simple* to administer. I've not used MySQL so can't directly compare, but the effort required to keep a PostgreSQL server running is so close to zero that MySQL can't possibly be significantly easier to administer.

      I'm not knocking MySQL in this comparision, just wondering how the heck someone who is competent to administer Oracle can describe PostgreSQL as being anything other than trivial to install and administer.

    12. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Colin · · Score: 1

      I know this may seem like a radical idea, but did you consider using your file systems for this?

      Yes. However, the key part is distributed. The database sits behind a bunch of web servers, which get content from the database. If the primary database fails, I can very easily change to the backup - no synchronisation issues like I might have with a distributed file system. File systems have issues with lots of files in a single directory, so I'd have had to implement some sort of hierarchial file store.

      Forcing the writes from one client to the server in time for another client to pick them up is another issue with the particular application I'm using.

      I've been looking for a while at distributed file systems such as Coda or NFS to solve some of these problems, but they either don't seem ready for production, or seem overkill for what I'm doing. I use NFS internally for sharing files, but I don't trust it for production web servers - the applications can't tell quickly that the file system is toast, and they need to switch to the backup.

    13. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Colin · · Score: 1

      I was probably having a bad day when I tried it - I just remember spending a morning trying to get it to create tables and allow remote access, and couldn't. I may well have been trying it on a Slackware box, rather than RedHat - I certainly remember building it from source at the time.

      I can't comment on the administration aspects of PostgreSQL, because I've never run it. The point I was trying to make (several comments up in this thread) is that there are a number of situations where you don't need the facilities that Oracle/ SQL Server/ PostgreSQL/ DB2/ etc give you, and for those, MySQL is a perfectly good choice.

    14. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by brer_rabbit · · Score: 1
      IMHO procedures are often overused. Probably they are required sometimes but only sometimes. If you think you need them than rethink you design. Maybe all logic you are going to implement with them should be implemented in middle layer?

      procedures are overused??? Try doing a query that returns thousands of results, where you need to do some quick computations on the results to reduce it to a single value. You want to do this at an application level? Ok, I'll let you. Now what happens when you get 100 clients performing similar queries? All these rows need to get transferred from the database over the (network|socket|whatever) to the application. That's some serious overhead. ...and possibly some serious CPU: if the data needs to be translated when it leaves the database and translated back at the application, you're just plain killing you throughput (god help you if you're connecting via ODBC).

      Put this functionality in the database, keep things local. Sure, not everything should be a procedure but saying "if you think you need them than rethink you(sic) design" is just plain ignorant.

    15. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by denshi · · Score: 2
      It's[MySQL] easy to run.

      I looked at PostgreSQL, but it was going to take me a while to figure out how to get it set up -...

      Here's how I read this: "I spent five minutes looking at the Postgres docs. Then I gave up and went back to MySQL."

      I know this isn't true, at least I suspect it is not from the content of your other posts. But I think the most cracked-out zealotry for MySQL comes largely from people for whom MySQL has been their only database -- script kiddies and beginning Perl/CGI peons in start-ups that have MySQL as default from their hosting provider or somesuch. Most of them don't even know what most database terms mean, let alone can derive a coherent value statement from them. People scream loudest when they are threatened by obsolesence.

    16. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1
      Oracle was going to be very expensive - and it's not that easy to install and get running properly.

      While I agree with the cost issue, which is certainly there, I disagree with the difficulty. Oracle is so simple to set up, even an idiot can do it. I know, because I've worked with a great number of idiots, and I've seen one of them set up oracle 7 on Solaris, no less. In this case, the idiot in question was stupid enough to give customers (This was a support environment) an incorrect answer on the phone even while I was telling her that she was lying to the customer. This, I feel, is proof of stupidity.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    17. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by m_ilya · · Score: 1
      First of all I haven't said procedures are completely useless. My point is that they too often overused - instead of putting business logic into middle layer often it is put in to stored procedures.

      Right now I have to deal with some legacy web application which has all its busness logic in PL/SQL scripts. It is very big PITA to support.

      Concerning your example: task you have been described can be solved without any stored procedures. What is a stored procedure (usually)? It is several SQL queries. So why some code in middle layer can't execute them (storing intermidate data in temprorary table).

      --

      --
      Ilya Martynov (http://martynov.org/)

    18. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Computer! · · Score: 1

      So why some code in middle layer can't execute them (storing intermidate data in temprorary table)

      I'm not going to pick on your spelling and grammar like other posters have, because you probably aren't a native English speaker, and that would be mean. To answer your question, though, true temp tables are only held per connection, and middle-tier code can't maintain them, unless it uses some made-up unique naming scheme, and destroys the implicitly. That takes code that's already written and compiled in most real DBs. Why roll your own solution when an SP can do it for you? A stored procedure is more than just a few SQL queries, it is the second-to-last line of defense (after triggers) your DB has. Also, SPs can be written and maintained by database experts, not procedural coders, thus improving accuracy and performance. Also, the additional layer of abstraction provides for more modular and readable code at the middle tier. Anyone who's concantenated 200 strings into a SQL query, then tried to debug that mess can tell you that.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
    19. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by m_ilya · · Score: 1
      Sorry, I don't really understand what is the problem with temp tables but anyway I don't want to discuss it.

      I would like to finalize discussion with following note. MySQL is very popular as SQL server used in web projects. Many people have been asked how database which lacks SP, triggers, etc can be so popular. The answer is simple: usually web applications doesn't have to deal with very complex data and all business logic can be easily implemented in middle tier without usage of SP, triggers, etc. In *seldom* cases when something like SP is required it can be easily simulated with temp tables.

      But if you don't need SP, triggers, etc MySQL really rocks! It is very fast, it is very easy to setup, has excellent documentation.

      P.S. Sorry about my spelling and grammar. Without spellchecker my spelling is ... not very good :). And grammar .. sometimes it is not very bad :). But I hope my points were clear.

      --

      --
      Ilya Martynov (http://martynov.org/)

    20. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Admiral+Burrito · · Score: 2

      I didn't mean to imply that postgresql is hard to setup - I meant that I found it difficult to install, when I was making the database decision a couple of years ago. I spent a morning trying to get it to work, and failed - which reflects much more on my (lack of) knowledge of PostgreSQL than the product itself.

      I had zero RDBMS admin experience, but managed to compile PostgreSQL 7.1.3 from source and install it. It was dead simple. Maybe things have improved?

      One thing I did notice though, is that by default it doesn't accept connections from the outside world. I think this is a good default, but getting it to accept connections was harder than the rest of the setup. The PostgreSQL web site has a nice online book that explained everything; I would've been lost without it.

      My hassles have all come _after_ PostgreSQL is set up. Mainly the difficulty in altering live tables. You can add columns with whatever constraints you like, but I have yet to figure out how to add foreign key constraints to existing columns. At least foreign key constraints are supported at all. :) But even simple things like removing a column are a pain in the but. The recommended way is "select into" to recreate the table with only the desired columns. I don't know if the new table picks up the constraints from the old table though.

      I've also had problems performing table modifications when a daemon process held a connection to the database. The process had completed its queries and was sleeping, but I could not make table alterations until I killed it. Not a biggie... I've since modified the process to completely disconnect before sleeping.

      PostgreSQL's locking seems to be better than MS SQL (version 7 I think it was; the only other RDBMS I have any experience with). A couple of times I've had to do a table-wide select in one db handle and a bunch of single-row updates in another. PostgreSQL handles this just fine. MS SQL tended to run for a while then deadlock, presumably when the row being updated was on the same page as an upcoming row in the select statement. MS SQL 2000 may be better but I haven't tried it.

    21. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by denshi · · Score: 2
      Okay, you're just being stubborn. You don't understand the problem with temp tables, but you're going to 1) ignore it, and 2) keep pushing them as a replacement for stored procedures?

      The worth of your opinion just went to zero.

      The reason MySQL is so popular in web projects is because of network effects. The reason MySQL *survives* in many web projects is because most web projects have low enough usage that their shortcomings are not apparent. One can easily waste 20 times the necessary resources on the web, and you won't notice until that day you are slashdotted and your usage pattern triples. You'll note that large MySQL projects such as slashdot end up writing large complex caching systems to avoid MySQL and are running on enormous machines relative to their needs. Perhaps you have noticed the number of MySQL projects that get successful, and then start working on Postgres and Oracle ports after they look at scalability data.

      As for the rest of your arguments -- SP required seldom, biz logic simple in middle tier, etc -- check the beginning of my message to see a response. You do not know what you are talking about.

    22. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by thejake316 · · Score: 1

      MySQL is very usable without these highly abused features:

      - procedures
      - triggers
      - views

      --
      AC's cheerfully ignored
    23. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like millions of others, I am writing a PHP/MySQL weblog. Sometimes you just want a bit of abstraction for your content and you need onlyt the features of a filesystem. MySQL fits the bill and Postgres doesn't.

      Yes, it's dumb and stupid etc.. but (in my tests) it's faster than Postgres. The project has a finish date and will not develop from there - so why not use a database that provides the features I need and is faster than another.

      Most people don't need a tank to drive to town.

    24. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by druse · · Score: 0
      - It's cheap
      I looked at PostgreSQL, but it was going to take me a while to figure out how to get it set up.

      Yeah, pretty tricky: apt-get install postgresql. Of course you probably believe that mandrake is easier than debian?

      --
      "To blow recursion, you must first blow recus
    25. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by kylant · · Score: 1
      -fast and decent transactions

      You can use transactions in a fast and efficient way in mysql if you need them (www.innodb.com) - or you can choose not to use transactions with the myisam-tables and get the performance. What else can you ask for?

    26. Re:The best opensource DBMS/R is here ... by noweb4u · · Score: 1

      Here here! We have a huge oracle cluster in our datacenter to handle millions of transactions a day and we still use mySQL as a session server - it's just fast, and simple. I like your tank analogy - it fits well here.

      It's fast, it's stupid, and it works great when you don't need to do advanced queries or transactions, or anything like that.

  19. Foreign keys by Betcour · · Score: 2, Informative

    Foreign keys are supported since yesterday with the InnoDB table handler (check www.innodb.com for more infos).

    1. Re:Foreign keys by Khazunga · · Score: 1
      What about if I want foreign keys and transaction support? Can I get a InnoDB+Berkeley table type?

      I really don't get this thing of core features being implemented in table types.

      --
      If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you
    2. Re:Foreign keys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      >What about if I want foreign keys and
      >transaction support? Can I get a InnoDB+
      >Berkeley table type?

      It is opensource, if MySQL hasnt a feature you want, get involved and add it. If your motivated enough to complain with dobs of rhetoric, then you are motivated enough to join the MySQL project and do something useful about it.

      If you know something is missing and you want it in the project, but sit on your arse and do nothing, then the only person you can complain for that functionality not being there is yourself.

      It is opensource which means it empowers you to do something about it. Whinging gets you nowhere.

      mocom--

    3. Re:Foreign keys by Nugget94M · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You're missing the point. The start of this thread was puzzlement over why, exactly, mysql is so popular in this community when more complete and more robust alternatives exist (like postgresql).

      There is no strong motivation to bring mysql's featureset up to the accepted standards for a sql server when we can all just run postgresql and have those features now, in a more mature and well-tested form.

      I'm constantly puzzled by the enthusiasm and support shown for mysql and simultaneous aversion to postgresql because both attitudes are clearly not based on technical merit. And, to make matters even more confounding, mysql's popular support and user community rallied behind it long before it was actually capital-F "Free" in the religious sense. So, we can't even settle on mysql's popularity being dogmatic which would be an understandable reason.
      I haven't seen anyone in this thread complain that mysql lacks features. I'm just seeing people wondering why we should be motivated to use a deficient product when better alternatives exist.

    4. Re:Foreign keys by Betcour · · Score: 2

      InnoDB does also transactions... it also offers row-level locking which improve performance under high-loads. There's no good reason to use BDB tables anymore.

      BTW : Slashdot runs on InnoDB tables.

    5. Re:Foreign keys by sbeitzel · · Score: 2
      I'm constantly puzzled by the enthusiasm and support shown for mysql and simultaneous aversion to postgresql because both attitudes are clearly not based on technical merit.
      I think you've hit the nail on the head, right there. Preferring one product over another on technical merit would involve:
      • engaging one's critical facility
      • actually having a deep technical understanding of the job and products
      I dunno what sector you work in, but for the past 7 years the web's been built by people who have an often incomplete grasp of both of these. Thus, products which are not the ideal choice get used in spite of flaws, and more appropriate products languish in obscurity. Remember this lesson: while the engineering department is crucial (one must have an actual product), the marketing department is no less so. It doesn't matter how wonderful your technology is if nobody knows about it, or if the people who do know can't figure out how to use it.
      --
      Oh, go on, check out my job.
    6. Re:Foreign keys by figment · · Score: 2


      You're missing the point. The start of this thread was puzzlement over why, exactly, mysql is so popular in this community when more complete and more robust alternatives exist (like postgresql).

      Speed. For a database with a lot of reads and very little writes, mysql will beat postgres in speed. That's it.

      I use both. I use mysql for some of my webprojects precisely for speed, but i use postgres for my non-web projects, where the robustness and particularly transactions and stored procedures, are necessary, and pure speed is not an issue. I (obviously) think that this is really the best to go, use each database where it's best fit.

      I don't know if it's a good thing that mysql is adding all these new features, while it is good that they're providing competition for postgres in this non-web market, i hope that they can either keep up the speed (as that is more important for certain web-applications) while adding these new features, or by forking the codebase such that I can choose between speed and robustness.

    7. Re:Foreign keys by Decibel · · Score: 2

      Everyone comments on how MySQL is faster than Postgres, but have these comparison's been made in an apples-to-apples manner? Obviously MySQL will perform much better out of the box, since it doesn't use things like row-level locking. I'm guessing that Postgres does use row-level locking by default. If you don't care about concurrancy, most databases will allow you to use table locks instead, which gives you a huge performance increase.

    8. Re:Foreign keys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I develop PHP on Windows9x. I'm really sorry about that and all - but it's what I have to use at work, and Postgres is a piece of goatse on Windows9x.

    9. Re:Foreign keys by rycamor · · Score: 1

      The real reason MySQL has become so popular is that it is easy to install and start playing with, even for those who know nothing about SQL. To quote my favorite Perl creator, "This is to be construed as a feature". I happen to like PostgreSQL also, especially for complex projects, but for many of the web apps I do, MySQL fits the bill nicely, and I don't have to jump through hoops to get it to run on this or that webserver.

      I don't see MySQL as being without technical merit. It simply is what it is, and does that very well, with no need for excuses. Of course I am happy that they are adding the advanced features, (See Monty's comment below about Foreign Keys coming for real) but up until now it has been very good and nicely portable solution to dynamic web development. For advanced enterprise databases, I think we shall see. I have a feeling that in the end both MySQL AND Postgres will rank right up there with any commercial database.

  20. That's all very well and good by The+Ultimate+Badass · · Score: 1

    But does it support foreign key constraints yet? This oversight on the part of the developers has caused me no end of headaches. I'm tired of having to write three thousand extra lines of Java code to do something that should be automatic. I'm tired of the MySQL developers playing fast and loose with the SQL standard. It's time to fall into line.

    --

    Denial isn't just a river in Italy

    1. Re:That's all very well and good by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

      It does. Is it so hard to keep up?

      --

      +++ATH0

    2. Re:That's all very well and good by flimflam · · Score: 2

      No it doesn't. Ever read the documentation?

      --
      -- It only takes 20 minutes for a liberal to become a conservative thanks to our new outpatient surgical procedure!
    3. Re:That's all very well and good by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

      It does.

      From: http://www.innodb.com/ (MySQL tabletype)

      October 9, 2001:
      New release: InnoDB source version 3.23.43b released for download.
      As the first table type in MySQL it features foreign key constraints.

      Never. Ever. Doubt. Me. Again.

      --

      +++ATH0

  21. MIPS by riggwelter · · Score: 1

    All very nice, but will it build properly on a MIPS system?

    I've had no end of trouble trying to get 3.23.xx to build on our Cobalt RaQ2's, just refuses to play nice...

    --
    Listening for the sound of the coming rain...
  22. Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-PgSQL by Secure42 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-PgSQL Databases?
    I am interesting from hearing about your experience.
    I have tested:
    - MS Access through MyODBC
    - StarOfficce through MyODBC or UnixODBC (it is missing native support connection to MySQL but it is in StarOffice TODO list, maybe in forthcoming StarOffice 6.0? :)
    - Rekall: it is still in Beta but seems really awesome
    Do you know any other alternative which one it is your prefered? i would like hearing about you

  23. Any serious db work by snatchitup · · Score: 1

    Any serious work would be done in Oracle. Yeah, I know, I know (db2? Sybase?)... But seriously, I've got it up and running under Linux and it has everything. Connection times are no problem with connection pooling. Java Servlets make it very nice.

    I tried to do all of this with mySQL wholeheartedly, and couldn't get anywhere. Once you've had full SQL support, you can just never go back.

    1. Re:Any serious db work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well it depends on what you consider "serious".

      Just as you don't need an 18 wheeler to drive to work, you don't need Oracle for every application that benefits from a database.

      I worked for one of the many now failed dot-coms. They had a web application with thousands of registered users running off Apache and mySQL. Worked great.

      The problem was that sales and marketing felt that using a big name database like Oracle would help sell customers on the service. So the company spent big bucks on hardware and Oracle consultants.

      When the switch was made on the testing environment, it lasted less than a day before going back to mySQL. Performance was terrible.

      Weeks and many consulting dollars later, the change was finally successful. Oracle was still about 10% slower than mySQL, but was acceptable.

      It makes me sick to think about how much money went down the drain porting to Oracle, with no real benefits in this case. The company went out of business before we were even able to take advantage of triggers, cascading deletes, sub-selects, etc.

      Oracle, DB2 and whatnot have their place, but I can think of many situations where Oracle is the wrong choice. Not every company can an afford an employee or two just to take care of the database.

  24. Re:Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-Pg by Galois · · Score: 3, Informative
    --
    - daniel
    Turn off your computer and go outside
  25. Re:Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-Pg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    I really enjoy using MySQL-Front. It's free, has lots of great import/export features, and is getting quite stable. There is another good tool called Mascon, which is available in a free and non-free version.

  26. Not a troll by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Have to say I 100% agree with this guy. PostgreSQL is light years ahread of MySQL, and is 100% open source. The GPL'ed version of MySQL isn't even free software! (The GPL version i always a subverions or two behind, I believe.) Why people continue to use it when PostgeSQL is out there defies all logic IMHO.

    1. Re:Not a troll by ichimunki · · Score: 1

      The GPL'ed version of MySQL isn't even free software!

      I think you might want to explain that-- since on the surface it makes absolutely no sense (except to BSD or public domain zealots who consider the GPL too restrictive).

      --
      I do not have a signature
  27. Re:Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-Pg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    DAMN IT. I have to apologize to EVERY person who posted here -- I had done some damn fine moderation to the comments, putting all 5 points into these posts about MySQL. I then posted anonymously and watched in horror as slashdot undid my moderation! Since when does anonymous posting affect moderation? Sorry guys, some of you plus-twos and plus-threes just dropped a point. Fuck. That was an hour wasted. Taco, Neal, someone: would it kill you to put up some alert text? That totally screwed over some very good contributors.

  28. Re:Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-Pg by Howie · · Score: 2

    In that past I've used Access to prototype, then exportsql (in the Mysql contrib page - it's too slow get grab a link right now) to create the script for mysql.
    Now I generally use PHPMyAdmin to do it through the web.

    --
    "don't fall into the fallacy of believing that Perl can solve social problems. Maybe Perl 6 can, but that's a ways off"
  29. great to see progress! by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is great! When I forayed into the SQL land 3 years ago I dried postgreSQL first because it was a "pure" SQL that was a true GPL and free.. but honestly, MySQL is tons easier to set up and use and program for. So that is what I settled on, it just added a step for me, I had to show a client how to download and install it to meet the license requirement at that time.. (Shoulder driving, click there, click ok, now type rpm -i *.rpm.. cool I can take over now!) I use it extensively today, and the documentation seems to be greated for MySQL than postgreSQL. Is that a fact though? is there sources for postgreSQL for dummies? or nice comprehensive manuals? or 3rd party books?

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:great to see progress! by CodeMonky · · Score: 2, Informative

      the docs on the postgrersql home page are superb. They've combined their three docs (Admin,User,Programmer) into one so it is fairly easy to use and they have a nice sql reference.

      --
      --"Karma is justice without the satisfaction"
    2. Re:great to see progress! by Tepic++ · · Score: 2, Informative

      I would recommend trying PostgreSQL again. Relatively recently (v7.0 and v7.1) there were some major improvements in terms of speed at least. As to setting up PostgreSQL (i.e. create and configure a database), it is very easy, once used to it, and the documentation is pretty good (http://www.postgresql.org/idocs/ ).

    3. Re:great to see progress! by druse · · Score: 0
      is there sources for postgreSQL for dummies?

      I don't think IDG has published a book about PostgreSQL. However, hiring a dummy to build your database is probably a Bad Idea. See also below.

      or nice comprehensive manuals?

      The docs provided with it are pretty good (debian package postgresql-doc for local)

      or 3rd party books?

      "PostgreSQL: Introduction and Concepts" by Bruce Momjian (one of the primary developers), pub Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-201-70331-9.

      I have this book and it's excellently written. It's targeted at the beginner to intermediate level, and serves double purpose as a reasonably handy reference. It didn't cover some of the more advanced features in the depth I would have like.

      A quick search of amazon for keyword postgresql turns up 9 other titles.

      --
      "To blow recursion, you must first blow recus
  30. What's the best transactionnal backend? by chrysalis · · Score: 2
    I'm very new to MySQL and I only used it with the Innobase backend so far.
    But what's the best MySQL type of (transaction-enabled) tables :
    • BerkeleyDB
    • InnoDB
    • Gemini

    Or something else, new to MySQL 4?
    Anyone has experience or benchmarks with these different types of tables?
    --
    {{.sig}}
    1. Re:What's the best transactionnal backend? by m_ilya · · Score: 1
      Can't say anything about Gemini but some words about BerkeleyDB and InnoDB.

      InnoDB is just rocks!!! The only thing I don't like about it is that it is not very stable *yet* becoase it is very young. For example couple releases ago blobs were broken in it. But still it is already used in production by many peoples (for example my company switched on InnoDB several months ago).

      BerkleyDB is not so cool as InnoDB because of several reasons. InnoDB was specially designed for SQL database while BerkleyDB table is just mapping on BerkleyDB. Guest which one is optimized for MySQL better. And finally BerkleyDB just doesn't scale for database which exceed size of RAM on server.

      --

      --
      Ilya Martynov (http://martynov.org/)

  31. Why people use MySQL by ACK!! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It goes a little like this:

    1. Someone needs a small easy to install database quick.
    2. Sysadmin knows PostGres is superior but also knows that MySQL is dead easy to set-up quickly. He has set up MySQL before since someone told him how easy it was. He uses that.
    3. People are so impressed in the organization that he got the thing up quickly they start suggesting MySQL for larger projects where it falls flat.
    4. The organization gets turned off to Open-Source databases and chooses Oracle or DB2 instead totally bypassing PostGres which is sad.

    In the end PostGres gets completely bypassed. Lots of people cut their teeth on MySQL so when someone needs a small database set up really quick they choose it. If more people used PostGres initially I think they would never look back. However, I understand immediately why MySQL is used so often.

    --
    ACK /ak/ interj. 2. [from the comic strip "Bloom County"] An exclamation of surprised disgust, esp. i
    1. Re:Why people use MySQL by daviddennis · · Score: 2

      I've gone through a similar path, but for me mySQL has done everything I've thrown at it. I have 50 people banging at it continuously every day, and what they do is mission-critical.

      The truth is that many of us have been with mySQL for years. When Postgres was first created, it was slow, very difficult to install, and used some kind of non-standard version of SQL. mySQL was fast, easy to install, and easy to upgrade from the mSQL database I used before. So I have been using mySQL ever since, with no need to switch.

      I might well use Postgres if I was starting database programming for Unix/Linux now, because the feature set is in fact better. But it looks like mySQL is going to gain the missing features quickly, so it doesn't seem like switching would be worth the effort.

      D

    2. Re:Why people use MySQL by mobosplash · · Score: 1

      I think a big reason people use mySQL is the network effect of so many hosting companies having it. Many web projects start out on a shared hosting box. When I do freelance projects, I end up using MySQL because that's what cheap hosting companies have.

      If I hadn't used Postgres before, when I had the chance to use whatever I wanted I would probably have just kept using MySQL.

    3. Re:Why people use MySQL by Animats · · Score: 2
      If setup is the problem, then the system administration design is lousy.

      When fixing this, forget "wizards". Don't configure via makefiles. Don't use user-edited text files. Make the setup mechanism find out as much as possible by itself. "You should never have to tell the computer something it already knows", as Apple once put in their developer guide. Ask how little the application really needs to know to get its job done.

    4. Re:Why people use MySQL by Random+Feature · · Score: 1

      Sysadmin needs an ass kicking if he didn't point out the shortcomings of each up front.

      The right tool, for the right job.

      For some things, MySQL kicks ass and I'd never use anything else. For others, PostGres or Oracle.

      MSSQL is never the right tool for the job, IMHO.

      --
      I don't have a solution, but I certainly admire the problem.
    5. Re:Why people use MySQL by Tony-A · · Score: 1

      MySQL is small, simple, direct, and fast. Basically, in MySQL you want to do the computation within the SQL statement rather than a read old-value, compute new-value, write new value.
      What MySQL does NOT handle gracefully is a combination of fast updates and slow readers. The newer versions may help somewhat. Directing slow readers to a slave MySQL definitely helps. There is a reason that MySQL gives back how long a query took. It's not just bragging rights.

    6. Re:Why people use MySQL by jacrawf · · Score: 1
      If more people used PostGres initially I think they would never look back.
      I completely agree, because that's how I did it. Doing my research ahead of time, I figured that even if I don't use all the extra features (like transactions) that Postgres provides, the fact that both databases were roughly as easy to use as the other made me choose Postgres. I've never looked back. Even for a small database, Postgres' reputation for good data integrity is important to me. Even small data can be important, after all.

      But hey, if someone else wants to use MySQL, more power to them. I don't mind giving out the occasional, "I told you so." (-:

  32. Ahhh...a MySQL post.... by bozone · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. Search Slashdot for old articles on MySQL
    2. Set filter to 3
    3. Cut'n Paste a rant about MSSQL/Oracle/DB2/PostgresQL being superior
    4. Cut'n Paste a list of features that MySQL needs to be a real RDBMS
    5. Make it known to the world that I will never use MySQL until it has the above features
    6. Watch my karma grow
    ...my work here is done...
    --
    "Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated" ...George Bernard Shaw
    1. Re:Ahhh...a MySQL post.... by scrytch · · Score: 2

      Maybe people are repeating those rants because they still hold? Without support for simple things like stored procedures or views (really, i can take one or the other in my case, but i can't lack both), and subselects, I just can't use MySQL. No hard feelings, but I certainly won't join the clamoring throng that defends a product too mediocre for me to use.

      --
      I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
    2. Re:Ahhh...a MySQL post.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ass. my. bite. now. you.

  33. DBTools for Windows by wirefarm · · Score: 2

    DBTools Is a pretty nice Windows-only front end (Though it will easily admin a server on a linux box.) - It looks a lot like Oracle's tool did 5 years ago, but it really works pretty well.
    This is the tool I recommend to people coming from MSAccess. I often use it when creating tables because I can never remember the syntax for doing auto-increment fields...
    It will take you about 5-10 minutes to figure out how it all works and it doesn't insult the intelligence of the command-line crowd.
    Hope this is of some use to somebody...

    Cheers,
    Jim in Tokyo

    --
    -- My Weblog.
  34. TOAD [DB enviroment] by tolan's+my+name · · Score: 1

    At work we use oracle to run a system I'm supposed to operate. As the actual application is, to say the least, weak my major interface to the system is TOAD [from quest software]. Its similiar to DB artisan etc.

    Do either Pogres or MySQL have similiar, free tools? if so any recomendations / problems. I'd like to play about with one of the 2, but really want a reasonable FE to do it in.

    Thanks

    1. Re:TOAD [DB enviroment] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      agree with the other post but mysql does have some excellent tools around it - phpMyAdmin is a really good browser based tool..available at http://phpwizard.net/projects/phpMyAdmin/

    2. Re:TOAD [DB enviroment] by chez69 · · Score: 0

      DB artisan is the biggest piece of shit I have ever used.

      --
      PHP is the solution of choice for relaying mysql errors to web users.
  35. Curious description of the GPL by elliotj · · Score: 2, Interesting

    According to the article:

    "The GPL allows open-source programs to be changed by users, but those changes aren't official and can't be sold commercially unless they're given back to and accepted by the owner."

    That's not exactly how I understood it. My impression was that the GPL was a recursive license allowing the free use and modification of code, but requiring that said modifications also be made freely available under the GPL. I didn't think the person whose code I was modifying had to accept my modifications in any way. Nor did I think it was directly incumbent upon me to send them to him.

    I wonder what it is about journalists that makes them so capable of half-understanding so many things?

    1. Re:Curious description of the GPL by whjwhj · · Score: 2

      I caught that too. Journalism ignorance. It is true, however, from a practical point of view, that if you want your modification rolled back into the main product, you have to deal with MySQL AB.

  36. This is a lie. by NineNine · · Score: 0, Troll

    A big British financial organisation maintained internally, its publicly available financial data in Access.

    Bullshit. Nobody stores critical data in Access.

    1. Re:This is a lie. by swillden · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Nobody stores critical data in Access.

      Ahh, the naivete of the young...

      People frequently do insane things like storing business-breaking data in access. And they absolutely refuse to listen to the $200 per hour consultant that tells them they're doing a very risky thing.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    2. Re:This is a lie. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe because time and time again they have had to rewrite an application that a $200/hr consultant has created after discovering a year later that it is a piece of crap.

  37. What's the point? by NineNine · · Score: 1

    The point of these tools is to manage more advanced stuff like Sequences, constraints (including foreign keys), rollback segments, parallel queries, transactions, etc. etc. MySQL doesn't have anything much more advanced than very basic inserts and updates. What's the point of a tool?

  38. BPP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    BSD-Python-PostgreSQL is becoming a really big buzz, might not challange Linux-PHP-MySQL as the one on the throne yet, but soon it might.

  39. It doesn't have stored procs? by dave-fu · · Score: 1

    My sincerest condolences to anyone trying to use this in a production environment.

    --
    Easy does it!
    This comment has been submitted already, 276865 hours , 59 minutes ago. No need to try again.
  40. Re:Which front-end are you using for your MySQL-Pg by Daniel+Dvorkin · · Score: 2

    Yep, phpMyAdmin is great; really everything you'll ever need to administer your MySQL database. Once a month or so I drop into command-line access via telnet to do a big, tricky query, but that's more a "because I can" kind of thing -- phpMyAdmin always allows you to execute queries directly if you want.

    As far as user front ends go -- just write everything in PHP. Look at the phpMyAdmin code if you want some ideas; they don't mind! Anyone with a decent amount of Web development and general programming knowledge can whip up a good-looking, functional PHP-based Web interface for a MySQL database in a very short time.

    --
    The correlation between ignorance of statistics and using "correlation is not causation" as an argument is close to 1.
  41. "nested queries and stored procs" by dasmegabyte · · Score: 2

    It's about fucking time!

    MySQL has been mired in the stone ages of Dbase4 for years; these will be welcom additions and will definitely help MySQL overtake some of its lofty closed source competitors.

    Me, I'm sticking with PostGreSQL. But I applaud the effort of the developers to make their application into something that DBAs worldwide can feel proud to add to their resumes.

    --
    Hey freaks: now you're ju
  42. Why This Is Good by macsforever2001 · · Score: 2

    To all those who are comparing MySQL to PostgreSQL, I'd like to comment on why this is good.

    First, competition will make them both better. The whole point of open source is *more* choice, not less. Stop complaining that MySQL is finally catching up to PostgreSQL and use which one you want. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. It's not like they both cannot coexist.

    Second, I use MySQL occasionally now because most ISPs seem to support it. PostgreSQL is great, but I cannot use it because my clients have long since chosen their ISPs and it is a major PITA to change for many reasons.

    1. Re:Why This Is Good by Homewrecker · · Score: 0
      The whole point of open source is *more* choice, not less.

      That is an outright lie. The real "point" of open source, at least the one that is voiced with amazing frequency around this place, is making a software choice that fulfills your political goals regardless of how it actually functions.

      It's not actually about the best tool for any job at all anymore (if it ever was). Ever heard the "yes, MSIE is better, but you should use Mozilla because it's not Microsoft" rationale?

      --

      --- Linux R00lz!

  43. MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL.... by javabandit · · Score: 1

    I'm not ragging on PostgreSQL. PostgreSQL is the most feature-rich, open-source implementation of a SQL92 database out there.

    But the fact is, MySQL simply kills it in performance. Which is usually the number one issue with any kind of database. That isn't to say that PostgreSQL is bad. It just isn't as fast. That's all. Here's a benchmark of MySQL versus other databases... including PostgreSQL.

    All of this being said... if MySQL gets the following features, I think PostgreSQL will lose ground on MySQL again:

    1) Nested sub-queries/sub-selects *coming in 4.x*
    2) Update a table with joins to other tables. *coming in 4.x*
    3) Delete from a table with joins to other tables. *coming in 4.x*
    4) Stored procedures *coming in 4.x*
    5) Triggers *who knows*

    With 4.1, they will be most of the way there. With triggers, they will be pretty much feature complete.

    Personally, I'd like to see materialized views implemented once all of this is done. I think that having materialized views will position MySQL as a serious consideration in the IT industry an an 'Oracle killer'. Lots of companies have already trashed Oracle in favor of MySQL. Those that have not... usually haven't done it because of lack of features in MySQL.

    Hopefully that changes.

  44. You should leave DBs for capable DBAs by santeri · · Score: 1
    Most small projects does not need transactions, subqueries or locking. And to really take advantages of such features you need to have some good understanding of databases.

    You shouldn't be administrating databases at all if you don't have a good understanding of the theoretical context and these, eh "advanced" features. Shit, I've seen so many web-monkeys-turned-dbas fuck up their systems because they lack the proper education of basic rdbms functionality.

    --
    ______________
    OTTERS RULE.
  45. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2
    But the fact is, MySQL simply kills it in performance. Which is usually the number one issue with any kind of database.
    No. Actually, speed (which is what I assume you mean by performance) is the last thing a database engineer is worried about; otherwise, you're just increasing the speed at which you fuck your dataset. Atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability. Thats what the database people care about. Beyond that, if it's a database of any import, you just throw more data at it. As somebody once pointed out, if speed is what you're after, use flat text files and grep. The speed of grep is nigh infinate.
    --
    Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  46. hope it scales better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With the demise of greatbridge and its support of postgresql, I can only hope that this flurry of activity with mysql results in a more scalable product.

    I often use mysql for projects until they get to a point where I think working around the scalability bugaboos becomes more of a chore than it's worth. I'm surprised the slashdot folks have stuck it out as long as they have, but their perseverance seems to be paying off (finally). 8-)

    OK, so I'm a coward.

  47. Referential Integrity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would be great to see MySQL include support for referential constraints...SSL support sounds cool, but as a developer I find a feature like referential integrity useful when coming up with complex data models.

    1. Re:Referential integrity? by Computer! · · Score: 1

      No, referential integrity is provided by foreign keys, which MySQL doesn't always have IIRC. Triggers and rules can be used as well, but MySQL doesn't have those either.

      --
      If you fall off a building, go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will be like hey, free dummy
  48. How about those... by Betcour · · Score: 2

    I never hear much about "alternative" commercial databases like Frontbase or SOLID Server... what good are they ? Did anyone tried them in a web environement ?

    1. Re:How about those... by Decibel · · Score: 2

      I've never heard of either of the databases you mention, so I can't comment on them.

      Typically, there are two reasons why people go with commercial databases:

      - Support
      - 'Quality' (more robust, more scalable, etc.)

      Support is pretty obvious... something goes wrong, you call. I'm sure some companies are much better at providing support than others, but it's a pretty safe bet that you'll get better support for a commercial database than a free one. And before the flames start, by support I mean 24x7 support, the kind of support you need when a system is down. Popping into an IRC channel and hoping someone's awake isn't a very good support plan when you're losing business by the second :)

      Quality depends greatly on what you're trying to do. For example, would you open an account with a bank that uses MySQL to keep your account information? Or trust a hospital to keep your medical info in MySQL? Big databases like DB2 and Oracle provide the tools you need to ensure data integrity. They also have a well-proven track record of use in industries where losing or corrupting data simply is not an option (I'm talking things like NYSE and financial institutions, not some e-store or a simple website).

      Another issues is scalability. People love to tout MySQL's performance, but it's very easy to see where you can make it fail. Not having row-level locking means good luck using it in a OLTP system, for example. It also doesn't cluster (which is an absolute requirement if you're going to do anything serious on x86 hardware).

      On the other hand, it'd be pretty silly to pay for something like DB2 just to run a small website.

    2. Re:How about those... by Lenolium · · Score: 1

      Actually, the clustering part is wrong. It does clustering, currently in master-slave situations, master-master "works", but I wouldn't trust it yet.

    3. Re:How about those... by Decibel · · Score: 2

      I think you're confusing clustering and replication.

      Replication is having multiple copies of the same database and trying to keep all the copies in sync.

      Clustering is taking a database and splitting it up across multiple machines. For example, DB2 allows you to do this at the table level, where rows for a single table are stored on multiple machines. What makes this work is DB2 hides most(if not all) of this from the applications, so it looks just like one large database.

      Personally, I'm more in favor of getting hardware capable of running the database, since administrating a single machine is generally much easier than administrating dozens, not to mention power consumption and floorspace considerations.

  49. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by cREW+oNE · · Score: 1

    But really... there are 'database people' and poeple that need to store data for a simple website that don't give a damn about acid stuff if it costs them anything more then mysql takes in resources.

    And that someone that pointed out that the speed of grep is nigh infinite.... he should try 4Gb textfiles. When you next see him, be sure to give him the troll treatment - for that's what he is.

    --

    +++ATH0

  50. more important additions needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how about views and stored procedures! sheesh still missing from what is otherwise an excellent database - at least sub selects will make it...

  51. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by javabandit · · Score: 1

    No. Actually, speed (which is what I assume you mean by performance) is the last thing a database engineer is worried about; otherwise, you're just increasing the speed at which you fuck your dataset.

    No. ACIDity means nothing if your SQL takes ten years to come back. As far as fucking your dataset because of high performance... I'm afraid I haven't seen that.

    Now, agreed, lots of DBAs don't care about performance. Apparently, you are one of those. But from a usability perspective, you have to have good performance.

    Enhanced MySQL (especially with Gemini tables) has excellent ACIDity. Automatic crash recoverty, ACID transactions. Row-level locks. SQL-standard statement atomicity. Replication. Index based queries. Table cardinality and referential integrity. Blocked I/O for good performance. Optimization statistics.

    What I am saying is that MySQL is a fantastic database which not only has good features as far as ACIDity goes, but is also faster than everyone in the bunch -- although I'm not sure about fucking of datasets -- I've never had MySQL fuck up my datasets.

    That was all I was saying.

  52. What kind of applications do use MySQL? by worf_mo · · Score: 1, Interesting
    What kind of applications are being created that are based on MySQL? Is it mainly web-based solutions, or is that just my impression?

    I have used MySQL for web-based applications only until now. And while I like it because it is fast, easy to install and administer, as others have alread pointed out, I find it still lacks some rather important "features" (like views, nested queries and stored procedures), a fact that makes MySQL a non-choice for most of my customers at the moment.

  53. You should leave trolling to the trolls.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean that people do not have the right to store some data in mysql when they didn't complete their $100K oracle training?

    Pssh.

  54. $200 price quoted in article is disingenuous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually MySQL is free for most of us, except in unlikely circumstances. Which is good because I used it for a year without paying anyone -- the article prompted me to look up the licensing terms to see if I'd cheated. See http://www.mysql.com/support/arrangements.html for details of MySQL's licensing terms.

  55. SSL? licensing? by prizog · · Score: 2

    How do they plan to do SSL? OpenSSL isn't licensed under a GPL-compatible license.

    If they've built a whole new SSL library, I'm impressed.

    1. Re:SSL? licensing? by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 1

      There is no problem with the OpenSSL license.

      From the RPM description:

      The OpenSSL toolkit is licensed under a Apache-style licence which basically means that you are free to get and use it for commercial and non-commercial purposes.

      One can use OpenSSL with GPL code without any problems.

      Regards,
      Monty

    2. Re:SSL? licensing? by prizog · · Score: 2

      No, the Apache license is *not* GPL compatible - read this:

      http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html

      The OpenSSL license has the same incompatible terms as the Apache license.

    3. Re:SSL? licensing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes you can, you motherfucking asshole.

  56. The newest version is GPLed by teg · · Score: 2


    The GPL'ed version of MySQL isn't even free software! (The GPL version i always a subverions or two behind, I believe.)


    You're wrong - the newest version of MySQL is GPLed (you can buy another kind of license from the company behind it if you need to). They changed their policy mid-2000, if memory serves.

    When using databases as backends, I'd much rather use PostgreSQL myself (transactions without table trickery, foreign keys, views and subselects being the things I miss most in MySQL), but MySQL certainly is free - and the subset of SQL they do support is very useful, and sufficient for many purposes

  57. Put up or shut up. by Ramses0 · · Score: 2
    Find me a link, or point me to the docs that tells me what to do after typing apt-get install postgresql postgresql-client that will get me set up with a user called "web", and a database called "webdata" that I can use from PHP.

    With MySQL its:

    • apt-get install mysql-server mysql-client
    • vim /usr/share/doc/mysql-server/README.Debian (because apt-get told me to)
    • mysqladmin -uroot password 'newpassword'
    • mysql -uroot -pnewpassword
    • CREATE DATABASE webtest;
    • USE webtest; CREATE TABLE test ( blah INTEGER NOT NULL );
    • GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON webtest.* TO web@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'some-password'; (found the syntax by searching the mysql manual on mysql.com)
    • exit
    • mysql -uweb -pwebtest webdata


    I spent a few hours one weekend trying to perform these equivalent operations with pgsql, etc. Granted I work with MySQL every day, but I wanted to try out PostgreSQL and see how it compares. It took me forever to find out that I needed to 'su' to user postgres in order to connect to the freaking database! Grr.

    I'm willing to try, but somebody needs to point me to the right parts of some manual, FAQ, or HOWTO ... because dammit if I didn't actually go and do just what I said I would do above to make sure that it worked, and now I have an installation of MySQL running in less than 5 minutes.

    --Robert

    1. Re:Put up or shut up. by rho · · Score: 2

      I'm not sure I understand. Why should a relational database -- a hugely complex and complicated program that is used to do complex and complicated things, in an environment that can be set up into hundreds of different configurations -- be easy to install?

      When I make the decision to use something other than a flat-file and go with a relational database, I usually have a larger window than 5 minutes to setup, install, make structural and architectural decisions. The difference between 5 minutes and a day is irrelevant when you're talking about a development time of weeks or months.

      I've never used MySQL. I've found that anything that I don't need transactions and stored procedures for, I can accomplish quite well with simple flat files.

      --
      Potato chips are a by-yourself food.
    2. Re:Put up or shut up. by StandardDeviant · · Score: 2

      from memory:

      root@host# su - postgres
      postgred@host$ createuser web
      [create new databases?] [hit no]
      [add new users] [hit no]
      postgres@host$ createdb webdata
      postgres@host$ psql
      [add the db structure interactively or read it in from a file, see the man page for psql]
      [use GRANT to selectively give 'web' and whoever else privledges on 'webdata' or the structures therein. this is stone standard sql, of course.]
      postgres@host$ logout

      then use this for your PHP connection string, roughly speaking:
      'localhost:5432:webdata','web','' (no passwd)

      the 5432 is the default port it runs on in tcp/ip mode. which is iirc the default in most cases.
      if you wanted to give the 'web' user a password that isn't hard to do but the particulars have slipped out of my head at the moment. this assumes you're postgres owner user name is 'postgres' of course, and that you've started the postmaster daemon already. don't know if the debs do that, I don't run debian.

      that should get you started. more info is the docs, try specifically the getting-started guide, and then like the administrator's guide. Postgresql is a _lot_ more flexible than mysql, the price you pay for that is a little more complexity.

      Oh, and you don't need to su to postgres to connect to the database, but you DO have to have made a postgresql-user for $login to connect from $login. 'createuser' isn't hard to remember. :^)

      I can have postgresql up in about 5 minutes too, if I use binary packages (I usually compile from src). It's just familiarity. For comparison, it takes me ages to remember the mysql-way to do the things I've described here, e.g. the "IDENTIFIED BY" is a new one on me.

      HTH

    3. Re:Put up or shut up. by Ramses0 · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the response-

      It seems that Postgres uses more command line tools rather than MySQL using commands that are built in to the client (psql in your example). You're right about the whole 'familiarity' thing... I'll have to go dig around and find more doc's again this weekend, and see if I can get a "hello database" application running with PHP and Postgres.

      I still like the doc's on MySQL's website better though! ;^)

      --Robert

    4. Re:Put up or shut up. by StandardDeviant · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that's one of the big criticisms against Pg is that the docs that come with the package aren't really newbie friendly[1], and there weren't any other doc sources out there until very recently. Personally I don't really like the Bruce Momijian book, but there is one coming out from O'Reilly and one from New Riders coming out soon as well, like in the next month or two. I am very much looking forward to those texts...

      Good luck with Postgres!

      [1] you sort of have to read all four 'books', fool around for a bit, and then read all four books again to get a good grasp on the system; but once you do it is enlightening.

  58. MySQL bashing. by Hallow · · Score: 1

    Enough of the MySQL bashing already. PostgreSQL is great ok? That doesn't mean there's not a place for MySQL.

    The place I work for is probably going to go with MySQL, and I'll tell you why.

    Currently, all our databases are in MS Access. The largest of which has about 12,000 rows, which could grow up to about 65,000 rows in my lifetime. In our couple of "big" datasets, updates are done annually.

    99.999% of everything we do will be database reads, with the occasional conference registration type deal.

    We require win32 odbc access, as we're still a primarily wintel shop (I don't like it, but I live with it for now). We need people to be able to connect, retrieve, and edit their data with Access, as it's what they know. MyODBC is far ahead of the PostgreSQL ODBC driver.

    It wouldn't make much sense for us to buy Oracle, or run PostgreSQL. It adds uneeded complexity where just using MySQL provides us with the needed speed improvement (900 ms for a query against access down to 30 ms for the same query against the same data in MySQL).

    Use the tool that fits the job. If we were doing GIS, storing gb's or tb's of data, needed massive fault tolerance, etc., we'd look towards Postgres or a commercial solution. But the truth is, we just don't need it... we need something inbetween Access and Postgres... something with the performance but relative ease of administration. MySQL fits that bill quite nicely.

  59. Because MySQL is available for Windows by j7953 · · Score: 2
    Why people continue to use it when PostgeSQL is out there defies all logic IMHO.

    One word: Windows.

    MySQL is available for Windows with a simple, quick install. PostgreSQL can be compiled on Windows, but I think you need Cygwin to do so, and the installation routine is a readme, not an executable wizard.

    Most small and mid-size ISPs offer MySQL on their servers, not PostgreSQL. Why? I'd guess it's because it's used more widely (yes, that's a catch-22), and because clients can easily install it on Windows to develop their applications.

    For simple applications like a web site, you usually don't need the features of PostgreSQL, MySQL will do the job. If you need the features that PostgreSQL can offer, you usually develop with a database server which you can run Linux on anyway. But for applications devloped in small networks or even on a single computer, availability for Windows is a huge selling point because it's the number one desktop system.

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments I post, 54 chars)
  60. Communication between mySQL and ODBC by daviddennis · · Score: 2

    Anyone know a good way to address a SQL Server database from an application using the mySQL API?

    That is, is there any type of library available that would let my Unix C program talk ODBC to a SQL server system?

    I know about ODBCSOCKETSERVER, and it's what I use now, but it's not robust enough for some of the things I want to start doing, and I'd really like to have a system that directly talks ODBC under Unix instead of having to go through a Windows box with ODBC installed. (I don't want to run the bridge on the computer that actually contains the SQL server interface).

    Thanks for any thoughts.

    D

    1. Re:Communication between mySQL and ODBC by swright · · Score: 1

      if you dont _have_ to use ODBC, you could go for a native connection (much faster too...)

      have a look at www.freetds.org or Sybase's OpenClient (sorry no URL).

  61. GPL by funcan · · Score: 1
    From the article:

    MySQL's code is owned by developer David Axmark, and its roughly 3 million users follow the GPL (General Public License). The GPL allows open-source programs to be changed by users, but those changes aren't official and can't be sold commercially unless they're given back to and accepted by the owner.
    The GPL means nothing of the sort. Am I the only that things at least tech press should have figured out these basic facts by now?
    1. Re:GPL by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 2, Informative

      The author apparently misinterpreted Marten Mickos statement. (That's
      the problem with news stories that you are not allow to check before they are published).

      You will find a lot of good GPL information at:

      http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl-faq.html

      Regards,
      Monty

  62. InterBase multi-versioning transaction engine by DVega · · Score: 1

    InterBase also has a very interesting transaction mechanism based on a multiversioning engine. One key benefit is that readers never block writers. You can process a long report of consistent (commited) data, without blocking data-entry applications.

    Here is a description of this versioning system.

    I must admit that I have no "real life" experience with this database. I don't know how fast or robust it is. Has anyone used it ?

    --
    MOD THE CHILD UP!
    1. Re:InterBase multi-versioning transaction engine by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 1

      Both MySQL and PostgreSQL has a multi-versioning transaction engines.

      Regards,
      Monty

  63. Besides that... by MelloDawg · · Score: 1

    The MySQL/mSQL book is the worst Oreilly book I've read. The online manual is far better, which is sad.

    --
    /. is irrelevant.
  64. New Slogan? by Toddarooski · · Score: 2

    "MySQL: When your data doesn't matter that much"

    Ehhh... needs some work.

    --

    "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"

  65. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by Wdomburg · · Score: 2

    >But the fact is, MySQL simply kills it in
    >performance. Which is usually the number one
    >issue with any kind of database. That isn't to
    >say that PostgreSQL is bad. It just isn't as
    >fast. That's all. Here's a benchmark [mysql.com]
    >of MySQL versus other databases... including
    >PostgreSQL.

    Their posted benchmarks are for SINGLE threaded access. Unless you're using it for one of the very few niche applications that require this, the benchmarks are *useless*.

    MySQL has a major problem with heavily concurrent access, particularly in instances where you are doing a lot of updates.

    At work I'm migrating from MySQL to Postgres for precisely this reason. Performance has been going majorly downhill as the utilization has grown. And now its not uncommon to see as many as 50-60 threads stalled waiting for a table lock .

    Yes, I'm aware that alternate table types exist for MySQL that implement finer grained locking. The problem is they are fairly new, and are in use on only a small portion of the MySQL installations out there; hence, they are nowhere near as well tested as Postgres.

    Also, the benchmarks published on InnoDB are extremely poor. The comparison to Postgres suffers from the same single thread test only problem I mentioned and is far from comprehensive. The rest of it is even worse - the test for concurrency impact only shows results up to 50 threads for inserts, and shows a major dropoff in performance of selects between 50 and 100 rows. And he actually admits to poor methodology on the test against a commercial database.

    Matt

  66. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by Michael+Widenius · · Score: 1

    MyISAM tables are not good in an environment where you are doing a lot of long running updates and selects on the same tables.

    InnoDB tables doesn't however have this problem.

    The benchmarks on the www.mysql.com page are still single users, but we are working on an open source multi user tests that will show how the different table handlers MySQL provides works under heavy multi-user load.

    The single user benchmarks does however show the top speed for a database and the strength and weakness for each database, so they are still very useful on their own.

    Regards,
    Monty

    PS: I agree that the benchmarks on the InnoDB web page are far from perfect.

  67. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by Sxooter · · Score: 1

    And everyone knows that the guys at mysql.com are gonna be able to install, configure, and tune postgresql to be an optimal dbms just like they did with mysql.

    These guys couldn't even get vacuum to run, a command I've never had fail...

    They probably have no idea how to optimize the query planner, change the buffer memory blocks, or create the right types of indexes to accelerate the database. And that's ok, but you should realize these things before you go by a benchmark made by one company against a competitive product.

    --

    --- It is not the things we do which we regret the most, but the things which we don't do.
  68. Referential integrity? by rhinoX · · Score: 1

    That is a function of how your tables / database are setup, rather than the database system it's running under.

    Right?

    --
    The copper bosses killed you, Joe. 'I never died', said he.
  69. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by Wdomburg · · Score: 2

    >MyISAM tables are not good in an environment
    >where you are doing a lot of long running
    >updates and selects on the same tables.

    Unfortunately MyISAM is still the best backend that has a widely deployed long-standing backend.

    >The benchmarks on the www.mysql.com page are
    >still single users, but we are working on an
    >open source multi user tests that will show how
    >the different table handlers MySQL provides
    >works under heavy multi-user load.

    I applaud the effort. That doesn't change the fact that the current benchmarks have major deficiencies.

    >The single user benchmarks does however show the
    >top speed for a database and the strength and
    >weakness for each database, so they are still
    >very useful on their own.

    It shows the top speed for a database under conditions almost never found in production environments and hides the weaknesses of MySQL by doing so. They are very much NOT useful to most people.

    Matt

  70. Well gee whiz, kiddie.... by FatHogByTheAss · · Score: 1

    man -k postgres might do wonders for your clue deficiency, or try "apropos postgres", if yer "old school."

    --

    --
    You sure got a purty mouth...

  71. MySQL and PHP by herve76 · · Score: 0

    MySQL capabilities range across a number of topics, including the following:

    - Ability to handle an unlimited number of simultaneous users.
    - Capacity to handle 50,000,000+ records.
    - Very fast command execution, perhaps the fastest to be found on the market.
    - Easy and efficient user privilege system.

    However, perhaps the most interesting characteristic of all is the fact that it's almost free.

    We developed more than 50 websites using PHP and MySQL, we never had any problems
    with this Open Source technology. Thumbs Up!

    Herve Fulchiron
    Creastar.com

    1. Re:MySQL and PHP by JDAustin · · Score: 1

      Have you ever tried to do a Full Text Search through the 50million records? A reasonably high volume site I know (www.TribalWar.com) that runs vBulletin 2.0 had to remove the Search function do to mySQL crashing the server because it couldn't go through all the messages.

  72. mySQL vs MS SQL by JDAustin · · Score: 1

    I see a alot of the postgreSQL vs mySQL but not much on MS SQL vs MY SQL. I think 99% of us would agree that Access doesn't complete w/ MY SQL. But how many of you would push mySQL over MS SQL on a MS platform? I've had a chance to use both and actuall run both mySQL and MS SQL on the same DB server. For set up and configuration, MS SQL wins hands down.

    As to speed tests, I would like to check some out (both straight SELECTs and queires where row locking is required).

    As to the features, it's hard for me to imagine useing a DB w/o Stored Procedures, Views, and SubQueries.

    1. Re:mySQL vs MS SQL by Luckster7 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I used MS SQL v6.5 years back and I can tell you that compared to MySQL it is very slow and most importantly, extremely unreliable. MS SQL cannot handle the load that MySQL can. At my previous company (care2.com) we had a dual xenon (PII 350MHz?) machine performing an average of up to 600 queries per second during peak hours. Sure I miss stored procedures, but running stored procedures on a database doing hundreds of queries per second is not realistic. It makes more sense to have clients do as much of the work as possible to reduce the load on the centralized DB. I guess if you have a minimal DB load or a mainframe you could successfully argue this point.

      --
      Deuteronomy 13:06-9
    2. Re:mySQL vs MS SQL by JDAustin · · Score: 1

      running stored procedures on a database doing hundreds of queries per second is not realistic

      huh???

      Isn't one of the main points to SP's the fact that they have stored execution plans and therefore execute faster the ad-hoc SQL?

      Also, comparing a DB in 2001 to a DB released in 1995 is exactly fair. Thats why I asked about SQL 7 or 2k

  73. Oracle and MySQL? Man, that's a SMALL toolkit. by emil · · Score: 2

    Might I suggest some additions:

    • linux.sybase.com - has all the fancy triggers and stored procedures, and the binary license is free (for the 11.0.3.3 release). Sybase is also very close in syntax and behavior to MS-SQL Server (they were the same codebase to release 4.8), so it's a good Linux evangelist tool for MS shops. They also have a 64-bit version for Alpha. On the downside, it's not very ANSI-SQL 92 compliant.
    • Postgres - getting more of the fancy features everyday, and support within RedHat is very strong - no need to recompile the webserver to use it. I have never understood why RedHat doesn't include DBD:Pg, though. Does Postgres have foreign keys yet?

    These are all really great tools; why leave them out? I like Oracle too, but $10k per processor is pretty steep. Hey, it's big and slow, but at least it's expensive!

  74. Why use any DBs at all? by deblau · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wearing my programming hat, I have to use the right tool for the job. If I don't need lots of nifty DB features, I'll use my native filesystem structure to store data, or even a flat file. Remember those? If I need bells & whistles, I'll choose a DB that has just what I need, and no more. Why waste cycles (or licensing fees) on worthless features? If I need transactions (for example), and I don't want to spend $$ on proprietary DB licenses or on man-hours trying to figure out a complicated open-source DB (remember TCO?), I'll code it myself with something simple like MySQL on the back end. If I do need scalability/lots more features/whatever, I'll pony up the time/money for the big boys.

    Right tool, right job.

    --
    This post expresses my opinion, not that of my employer. And yes, IAAL.
  75. Postgres will fall flat on its face too... by emil · · Score: 2

    Try throwing 20 million rows in and out of the server everyday. Big RDBMSes still have a place. Write portable SQL as much as you can.

  76. Oracle killer? NOT! by emil · · Score: 2

    Nobody, but NOBODY, will challenge Oracle with a database unless SAP and PeopleSoft port to it.

    I wish RedHat had understood this. RedHat might have been better off bundling SAP-DB and selling an SAP-optimized version.

  77. MySQL is good but can be better. Why wait? by MattRog · · Score: 2, Informative

    I will agree that for 99.9% of MySQL users MySQL runs just fine. They don't need, nor care about, sub-selects, row-locking, triggers, etc.

    We used to run MySQL but found that it died *horribly* on heavy multiuser loads. (e.g. 500 concurrent users, all updating/insert/etc.)

    I investigated the problem and found out that table locking really, really sucks. Last summer when we had this problem we didn't have the luxury to mess around with pre-alpha table structures and spend countless hours poking around with settings.

    I carefully explored the other RDBMS's out there and eventually picked Sybase ASE 11.9.2 for Linux as the best choice. I can say it was hands-down the best choice we made. Now we're at 12.5 which supports SSL, XML, etc. and a host of other features MySQL hasn't even thought of.

    Instead of 'dealing' with MySQL we're making money with something else.

    So here it is:
    If you are having problems with MySQL - DON'T PUT UP WITH IT. There are many other fish in the sea that will better fit your application. Simply because it is 'free' or 'popular' does not make it better for your application.

    As someone else said, I always follow the 'pick the best tool for the job' test. If it is out of our price range, we either find a way to buy it or move on to the next item on our list.

    I think far too often people perform the 'open source' or 'free' litmus test first -- leading to major headaches down the road.

    If we were in this situation today I think we'd rather have picked Postgres, simply because it was a lot cheaper and offers many of the performance-enhancing features as the 'big three'! :)

    --

    Thanks,
    --
    Matt
  78. not aggree : by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    #1 why don't you use alias ?
    It is a IB6 feature ;-)

    #2
    why use a shell tool when IBACCESS exists ???
    I you use JAva you may also use any SQL Editor tool to manage it.

    #3 did you tried the gfix tool ???

    #4
    dbaccess does the stuff :o)

    have fun with IB ;)

  79. User interbase (or firebird or ibphoenix) ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    all are opensourced and zero cost :)

    (You can pay if you want but it is for the support ...)

    It is the best ration price/spec/perf at this time !!!

  80. You have to laugh by ErikZ · · Score: 3, Informative

    I keep on seeing the same statement, over and over, saying:

    "I don't understand why MySQL is so popular, the only thing it has going for it is tha it's easier to install!"

    Answer...staring...right...at...you.

    --
    Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
  81. Big differences by StrawberryFrog · · Score: 2
    If the changes aren't that major

    But they are

    then you are saying that the gap between the two products isn't that big.

    I'm not saying that. It's a big gap, and not likely to close anytime soon.

    That those features of PostgreSQL that have been around for years aren't anything to shout about.

    That means that they are tested and proven. And work reliably now. That's worth shouting about.

    Is it that hard for you to imagine that the everyone else is getting along fine with what mySQL has to offer?

    If they understand the alternatives, and really only need a fast, small but junior leauge DB like MySQL, then no problem. If they are just ignorant, then I suggest trying harder.

    --

    My Karma: ran over your Dogma
    StrawberryFrog

  82. Re:MySQL is far easier and faster than PostgreSQL. by Decibel · · Score: 2

    Also, my guess is that they didn't bother turning off all kinds of features in the other databases in order to put them on equal ground with MySQL. Features such as transactions, row-level locking, etc.

    It's amazing how much faster a database runs when it doesn't have to worry about such 'niceties'.

  83. Oracle-spam by Fuzzums · · Score: 1

    Go MySQL!!!

    Todat i was making a query which as quite hard, but eventually i succeded. But when nested queries are possible... Oh, this would be heaven!!

    Now wait for the transactions :)

    There was just one thing. I've reloaded the zdnet page many many times and every time a f***g Oracle banner poped up. Yeah, we know you're bigger. we also know MySQL is free and will run on my slowestt 486 with a maximum of 32Mb RAM :))

    --
    Privacy is terrorism.
  84. I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by atomray · · Score: 1

    I've been using MySQL for a couple months, nothing too serious, just storing some content for my website. After reading the posts concerning MySQL vs. PostgreSQL, I was convinced that I should switch to PostgreSQL....In the end, I want a complete JDBC driver and SQL92 DB.

    So, I went to the website and decided to order a CD. I'm on a broadband connection and it would download in a couple minutes, but I wanted to support the development.

    I attempted, but their 'purchase' page had no submit button for the form. I let them know, and got the response that there was a submit button. I checked under IE on my roommates' win me machine (and in the html) and there is one.

    So, I've heard all these great things about PostgreSQL? Anyone know when, or if, they will support Linux? Until then, I guess the MySQL vs. PostgreSQL argument is kinda moot...

    --
    take your sig and shove it
    1. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 2

      I just purchased a CD using Konqueror on Linux. There was clearly a submit button on every page. I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

    2. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by domc · · Score: 1

      If there is only one form on a web page, a simple "enter" keystroke will perform a submit.

      domc

    3. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by atomray · · Score: 1

      after being told the same thing by them, i looked at the html (obviously, the button doesn't appear, that's what the hell I'm talking about), and the button is in a comment. Not sure why your browser displays it, that's a bug. Not sure why they didn't bother to look. whatever, it's not important. I just thought it was entertaining that I wanted to support free software, and was unable.

      --
      take your sig and shove it
    4. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 1

      You're talking about the order form here, right? If so, the submit buttons the order form and the credit card verification form are NOT in a comment. The HTML is correct on both pages. Unfortunately, I can't check any pages past that without purchasing another CD, and I'm not going to do that right now.

    5. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by atomray · · Score: 1

      Yep, that's the page. I swear to you that the button doesn't appear, and I can see in the html the start of an html comment that isn't closed. I've emailed pgsql, and they don't seem to care. I don't even care anymore :)

      Hmmm, I'm starting to think I'm the only one using mozilla...

      --
      take your sig and shove it
    6. Re:I tried to buy PostgreSQL tonight... by Russ+Steffen · · Score: 1

      My apologies. Upon further insepction I see the stray comment you're talking about. It's pretty far ahead of where the button is defined, and I missed it before. The weird thing is that every other browser besides Mozilla renders the page as if the comment weren't there.


      If enough people mail them, maybe they'll fix it. Maybe...

  85. MySQL was better for me because ... by SimCash · · Score: 1
    I found the documentation to be much better, and the examples easy to find. May not be true now, of course.

    Also, it is much easier to pronounce. I never ran into an MP3 that was put online to teach me how to say "MySQL". :-)

  86. Use da brain, Luke! by NetBear · · Score: 1

    Ditto!!! MySQL provides WAY more horsepower and features for 99% of web applications out there.

    In the case of huge searches through gobs of text... Well, guess what... Any database is going to huff and puff on that kind of a query. We had the same problems with Oracle.

    Does any search engine use such a simple query technique? NO! You have to do some (gasp) programming and (gasp) planning in order to create a (double-gasp) algorithm that works. Check out what the areyouhotornot.com guys did.

  87. Try the alternative: KDB. It's primo. by Jayson · · Score: 1

    KDB is a very fast and efficient. It also has the best stored procedure language around (it may look like Perl, but it is no where close to it in philosophy).

    ----
    on thursday jan 4, 2001 steve miano, ed bierly, keith mason and i
    loaded 2.5 billion trades and quotes on a 50cpu linux cluster.

    simple table scans on one billion trades, e.g.

    select distinct sym from trade
    select max price from trade

    take 1 second

    multi-dimensional aggregations, e.g.

    / 100 top traded stocks
    100 first desc select sum size*price by sym from trade

    / daily high and close
    select high:max price, close:last price by sym, date from trade

    take 10 to 20 seconds

    translating the data from TAQ to kdb took about 5 hours.
    (steve had loaded the 200 TAQ cd's onto several disk drives.)

    distributing the 100gigabytes over the 100Mbit ethernet took 3 hours.
    (this cluster should probably have Gbit ethernet)

    loading the database (k db taq.m -P 2080), starting 50 slaves,
    connecting, mapping shared indicative tables over nfs, building
    parallel partitions, etc. took .1 second.

    ----
    1. What is Kdb ?

    Kdb is an extremely fast RDBMS extended for time-series analysis.

    2. Does Kdb support SQL92, ODBC and JDBC ?

    Yes.

    3. Is Kdb a read-only RDBMS ?

    No. Kdb is very fast for OLTP (online transaction processing).
    For example, it runs over 50,000 ATM-style transactions per second logged
    to disk with full recovery on a single cpu. This was against a database of
    over 100,000,000 accounts, tellers and branches. Kdb can do batch updates at
    several hundred thousand records per second per cpu.

    4. Is Kdb a memory resident RDBMS ?

    No. Kdb has minimal memory requirements and is very fast from disk.
    For example, it ran the gigabyte TPC-D (an industry standard decision support benchmark)
    queries and updates on a 200MHZ PC with 64 megabytes of memory, an ultrawide SCSI
    controller and four disk drives many times faster than the best published results
    at a fraction the cost.

    5. What about time series ?

    Kdb handles much more than just SQL92 tables. Online analytical
    processing (OLAP) on multi-dimensional arrays is done with our
    extended SQL language, KSQL. For example, on the 35 megabyte OLAP APB-1
    benchmark queries, Kdb ran 12,000 queries per minute with no precalculation.

    6. Since Kdb is so fast, does it require more storage ?

    No. Kdb is simple and will often store just the raw data.
    For example, in TPC-D, the published results required storage
    between 3 and 10 times the raw data. The Kdb factor is a little over one.
    Some OLAP tools require (for fast queries) massive precalculations. For example,
    in APB-1 some expanded the 35 megabytes of input data to many gigabytes. Kdb
    aggregates relations (extended with time series fields) so fast that precalculation
    is often obviated. Certainly when the raw data is less than a few gigabytes.

    7. Is there a parallel version ?

    Yes. Although Kdb can handle much larger databases than other database
    products without requiring parallel processing, there is a parallel
    version for the largest applications. Kdb scales

    ----
    KDB is the classiest database on the internet.
    See http://kx.com

    -j

  88. Thanks Monty!! by rycamor · · Score: 1

    I'm just going to have to keep hitting "refresh" until v .44 comes up ;-).