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kman42 · Aug 7, 2004, 12:52 PM

I am looking to create a fairly simple relational database for tracking some scientific data. I was thinking of using Filemaker, but then considered it might be a good learning experience to use MySQL or something similar. I've never used MySQL, but I'm not afraid of the CLI or getting my hands dirty to learn some new technologies. Could people throw out some pointers, etc on the various open source databases that are available, ease of installation, GUIs for setup, etc? Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
kman

madmacgames · Aug 7, 2004, 01:31 PM

MySQL is pretty easy to install on OS X if you use one of the package installers. I am using the Server Logistics package with no problems on 10.3:

http://www.serverlogistics.com/mysql.php

They also have a pref panel so you can start/stop the database server from System Preferences.

There is PostgreSQL, but it seems to be more difficult to install on OS X.

Then there are some front-end GUIs to MySQL. CocoaMySQL is great and also open-source:

http://cocoamysql.sourceforge.net/

There is also MacSQL that is a front-end GUI for different types of SQL databases:

http://www.rtlabs.com/index.html

bergy · Aug 7, 2004, 01:38 PM

Not free .. but maybe you'd be interested ..

iList Studio
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/15590

ambush · Aug 7, 2004, 07:14 PM

PHP with MySQL is one of the best (power/cost ratio) combination out there.

And, well, cocoamysql kicks too.

I'm using this for a client... he'll slowly migrate from FileMaker to MySQL

Truepop · Aug 7, 2004, 07:35 PM

if you would like to install the official mysql package, click over here http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/mysql/

he also has an installer for php for when you want start working with MySQL through phpMyAdmin or another php script.

Keiretsu · Aug 8, 2004, 02:53 AM

I have bith MySQL and PostgreSQL.
I use MySQL because WordPress currently only works with MySQL.

For all other stuff I use PostgreSQL (http://www.postgresql.org/). I supports transaction out of the box, works nicely with Java and stuff like Hibernate, has ultra-clean documentation (HTML online, HTML offline and PDF) and I could even get ODBC working so that I can use MS Excel in conjunction with the database (for analysis etc).

I compiled everything from scratch and had no major issues (except maybe some compilation problems with GNU readline). There's a lot of how-to info all over the web.

mrgaskell · Aug 8, 2004, 04:06 AM

I had a guy come in the other day that was looking to migrate from Windows and Access to the Mac. He is using SQL (obviously) and wanted to know an app that would give him the same functionality. He isn't a big geek, so what would work for him?

Angus_D · Aug 8, 2004, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by mrgaskell:
I had a guy come in the other day that was looking to migrate from Windows and Access to the Mac. He is using SQL (obviously) and wanted to know an app that would give him the same functionality. He isn't a big geek, so what would work for him?

If he's using Access, chances are he isn't using MSSQL but Jet or something. He'd probably be most at home with FileMaker or Omni Studio or something. Or possibly 4th Dimension.

Maflynn · Aug 8, 2004, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by Angus_D:
If he's using Access, chances are he isn't using MSSQL but Jet or something. He'd probably be most at home with FileMaker or Omni Studio or something. Or possibly 4th Dimension.

Access does have a subset of T-SQL, I've used both SQL Server and Access - Life would have been easier if MS hadn't hamstrung access by not implementing the same SQL.

This is one of the area's that I feel that is missnig in the mac world. FileMaker has the dominance, but I'm used to the query window that access has (query analyzer for SQL Server). I myself haven't tried MySQL which seems over-kill for what I'm looking to do.

Mike

kman42 · Aug 9, 2004, 12:04 PM

I installed MySQL and everything seemed to go okay, but I can't enter commands longhand (quit or help), instead I have to enter the shortcuts (\q or \h). Any ideas why that might be?

I installed the Server Logistics package.

kman

kman42 · Aug 9, 2004, 12:07 PM

Originally posted by kman42:
I installed MySQL and everything seemed to go okay, but I can't enter commands longhand (quit or help), instead I have to enter the shortcuts (\q or \h). Any ideas why that might be?

I installed the Server Logistics package.

kman

Nevermind. That semicolon requirement threw me.

kman

suthercd · Aug 9, 2004, 09:58 PM

And it will happen again and again until you've used it a lot. -

C

kman42 · Aug 10, 2004, 04:27 PM

How about an interface for my database? I'm thinking I should probably do it using PHP or java or something so that it can be accessed over the web (eventually). I looked into a cocoa framework for mysql since I know cocoa, but I think it would be fun to learn the web stuff and keep it platform independent. Problem is, I don't know PHP or java (or even HTML

). But as I said in my first post, I'm always willing to get my hands dirty and learn as I go.

My database will start out as a single-user (me) and only be accessed on my computer. I have already made the database using a combination of the CLI and cocamysql. That went pretty well and it is working fine. Essentially I need a data entry page for two or three tables, some display pages, and a search page.

Any recommendations on the quickest, easiest way to get something up and running that I can improve over time as I learn?

kman

itai195 · Aug 10, 2004, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by kman42:
Any recommendations on the quickest, easiest way to get something up and running that I can improve over time as I learn?

kman

The quickest, easiest way is to use WebObjects 5.2's rapid development feature. That would take you about 5 seconds

But if you want to write something yourself, I'd recommend PHP over Java if only because the learning curve isn't as steep. If you really are Apple oriented, then I would honestly recommend checking out WebObjects, it's Apple's best kept secret. You can build platform independent web applications with it (even deployment is platform independent) but you are tied to an Apple product.

kman42 · Aug 10, 2004, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by itai195:
The quickest, easiest way is to use WebObjects 5.2's rapid development feature. That would take you about 5 seconds

But if you want to write something yourself, I'd recommend PHP over Java if only because the learning curve isn't as steep. If you really are Apple oriented, then I would honestly recommend checking out WebObjects, it's Apple's best kept secret. You can build platform independent web applications with it (even deployment is platform independent) but you are tied to an Apple product.

Is it free like the developer tools or am I going to have to buy it?

kman

madmacgames · Aug 10, 2004, 05:41 PM

Originally posted by kman42:
Is it free like the developer tools or am I going to have to buy it?

kman

$700. yikes...

http://www.apple.com/webobjects/

kman42 · Aug 10, 2004, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by madmacgames:
$700. yikes...

http://www.apple.com/webobjects/

Then I think I'll start with PHP

kman

kman42 · Aug 10, 2004, 06:05 PM

Should I install PHP with fink? I used the server logistics package to install MySQL.

kman

itai195 · Aug 10, 2004, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by madmacgames:
$700. yikes...

http://www.apple.com/webobjects/

LOL, yeah, it's not free. Sorry. It's a great deal for $700 though, and if you're a student it's $99.

For free, stick with PHP

kman42 · Aug 11, 2004, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by kman42:
Should I install PHP with fink? I used the server logistics package to install MySQL.

kman

I just wanted to repeat this question before the thread gets lost. I found some decent tutorials on using PHP with MySQL, so I figure if I can get everything installed without a problem, then I can take it from there.

thanks,
kman

Diggory Laycock · Aug 11, 2004, 10:07 AM

Don't forget this useful admin app:

http://cocoamysql.sourceforge.net/

and PHPMyAdmin.

hayesk · Aug 11, 2004, 10:27 AM

If it's web only, then MySQL(or PostgreSQL) and PHP is a good choice. If you want a desktop client and you aren't a software developer, then FileMaker is a better choice by a long shot. When clients want to start printing reports, generating statistics, mailing labels, and want to do small changes to the database, FileMaker is much easier.

fiesta cat · Aug 11, 2004, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by Diggory Laycock:
Don't forget this useful admin app:

http://cocoamysql.sourceforge.net/

and PHPMyAdmin.

PHPMyAdmin is good. I'll have to try cocoamysql though.

itai195 · Aug 11, 2004, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by kman42:
I just wanted to repeat this question before the thread gets lost. I found some decent tutorials on using PHP with MySQL, so I figure if I can get everything installed without a problem, then I can take it from there.

thanks,
kman

I may be wrong about this, but doesn't Mac OS X ship with PHP already installed?

kman42 · Aug 11, 2004, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by itai195:
I may be wrong about this, but doesn't Mac OS X ship with PHP already installed?

You are correct. I just this minute found a random dreamweaver tutorial that explains how to enable php in the apache httpd.conf file. I was able to load a page with the phpinfo() command and it worked! Now I am on my way.

First things, first. Security. Just browsing through the mysql docs on security is quite daunting and I could use a primer on the basics. At this point I want it locked down pretty hard so that only I can access my database (and even my web server if that is possible) from my local machine. I changed the root password of mysql as that seemed like a good start and I understand that I can create a specific user for a given database in mysql and assign that user limited access. That also seems like a good idea. I'm assuming that the php commands to connect to the mysql server let you use a specific user to limit access? Do I need to set up a new user account on my computer or just within mysql? I'm planning on reading as much as possible about the security of this system, but as it seems fairly complicated I just want to make sure I get the basics so that I don't inadvertently open my computer wide to the world

kman

kman42 · Aug 11, 2004, 01:32 PM

This question may no longer belong here, but I'm going to ask anyway.

I can't get PHP to pass a variable properly from the querystring in my script.

My url is http://mywebsite/script.php?id=1

In my script if I just do something simple like:

printf("%s", $id);

OR

if($id) {...}

nothing happens. It's as if PHP isn't creating the variable. Any ideas?

kman

kman42 · Aug 11, 2004, 01:39 PM

Sorry, nevermind. Apparently you need to use a $_GET function to extract the variable first. Seems that wasn't necessary in PHP3 perhaps as it wasn't in the example script in the tutorial I am using where they use PHP3. Is this a security thing?

kman

madmacgames · Aug 11, 2004, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by kman42:
Sorry, nevermind. Apparently you need to use a $_GET function to extract the variable first. Seems that wasn't necessary in PHP3 perhaps as it wasn't in the example script in the tutorial I am using where they use PHP3. Is this a security thing?

kman

yes, you can use $id if register globals are turned on, but this is a pretty big security risk. The proper way is to have reg. globals off and use the superglobals $_GET, $_POST, $_COOKIE, etc.