Rekall Now Available Under GPL

Karma Sucks writes "Rekall is one of those killer apps alongside Scribus, Evolution, OpenOffice and Mozilla that could make all the difference for Linux desktop productivity. For those of you not in the know, Rekall is a RAD DBMS similar to MS Access or Paradox and has now been GPL'ed by theKompany. Community development and organization is to take place on rekallrevealed.org."

Comments

Finally, a desktop DBMS for Linux.

[ninejaguar]

This completes the open source office suites. This may also encourage and spread the use of Python. I hope they also include a connector to FireBird.

= 9J =

Re:What a great message...

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't particularly think TKC is too happy with this release. Read up on the history of it, Shawn Gordon is insisting that these guys didnt have the rights to release it.

Re:but where's the calendar?

[joejor]

take a look at Mozilla Calendar

Mirror of Screenshots

[xcomputer_man]

See here.

Cool, it has a proper report designer and scripting. Not your average lame db frontend :)

Good News

[sirmikester]

I know its been said before but, this is a step in the right direction for the open source desktop movement. In order for mainstream businesses to adopt linux, there NEEDS to be a M$ Access alternative available. Right now there isn't anything that even comes close, and that is a major reason why many people don't even try out linux on the desktop.

I hope that eventually, Rekall will come bundled with mysql and that it will resemble an access type application. I think that if this happens it could be a very strong alternative to Access.

Re:Excellent

[xcomputer_man]

I'd hardly think calling anything similar to MS Access a complement. Access is barely what I would call a database...and I truly wish it would be banished from the desktop!!

Rekall is not a database. It is just a database frontend, with the features of Access. It still makes use of a proper relational database backend like MySQL or PostgreSQL. What's the problem? You don't like easy-to-create forms and reports? Yeah, the MDB format sucks. But otherwise Access has certain features that are essential in many office environments that are comprised of merely windows desktops.

Re:Ho hum

[xcomputer_man]

RTFA before you start ranting off on a tangent.

We've plenty of relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, mSQL, HyperSQL to name just four), and plenty of flatfile databases (gdbm, ndbm, Berkeley DB, Sleepycat DB to name another four). We've even got GIS databases (eg: GRASS and PostGRASS) and any number of other specialized database products (LDAP, SNMP, etc). We don't need any more! Please!

Rekall is not a database! It is an Access-like front end to other databases, and currently supports MySQL and PostgreSQL.

If we need database products, we need object oriented databases, heirarchical databases, things that are in relatively short supply, where what is out there is limited in usefulness, so ancient it won't compile, or too hideous to contemplate.

There is at least one open source OO database out there, and there was even a slashdot story about it. IIRC it has been forgotten since.

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, wouldn't it be a smarter use of time to invent the car? More effort into RAD tools for existing database products, and/or enhancements into those that were already there, would be far more productive use of time.

Which is exactly what Rekall is: a RAD tool for existing database products.

Now quit your whining and go find something productive to do.

Re:but where's the calendar?

[Anonymous Coward]

Tried KOrganizer? The newer KDE PIM suit?

Re:Er, wha? (AKA DMBS??? )

[LX.onesizebigger]

Could something like this [Google HTML cache of PDF] be what you are looking for?

Re:Er, wha? (AKA DMBS??? )

[rossz]

I really hate to say this, but MS Access does a much better job than OpenOffice in this regards. I spent some time experimenting with porting a MS Access database to MySQL using an OpenOffice front-end, but ditched it as "not there yet".

You may snigger at Access as not being a real sql sytem, but for a small office, it can't be beat. It has everything you need to create a full database system (though with some limitations):

1. Table designer
2. Form designer
3. Query designer
4. Report designer
5. Menuing system

It's primary limitations are:

1. Doesn't play well on a network
2. Doesn't scale all that great

A killer open source application would be something that replaced MS Access from the design and execution standpoint, but tied it to a MySQL (or others) server to overcome the Access limitations.