[PLUG] MS Access Equivalent

Robbert van Andel robbert at vafam.com
Wed Sep 3 06:15:02 UTC 2003


I agree. When it comes to development, Access is a very simple program
to use to store and retrieve data.  As I learn more about Linux/Unix
development, I hope to come across something that will equal Access's
functionality.

Robbert

On Tue, 2003-09-02 at 22:49, Steve Jorgensen wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 02, 2003 4:21 PM, Rich Shepard 
> [SMTP:rshepard at appl-ecosys.com] wrote:
> > On Tue, 2 Sep 2003, Holger Stephan wrote:
> >
> > > Is there a database system similar to MS Access on Linux?
> >
> > Holgar,
> >
> >   Gag! Gak! NO! Access is a flat-file database. Very limited.
> >
> > > Or, better, something that runs on Linux and Windows?
> >
> >   Two that I can recommend: PostgreSQL and SQLite. The former is a 
> standard
> > that approaches (or meets) the power of Oracle -- without the marketing 
> hype
> > or cost. The latter is a SQL library that can be used for your own
> > applications, particularly embedded ones. Both GPL; both run on cygwin on
> > Microsoft. SQLite may have a native Winduhs port, but since I pay no
> > attention to such things I may be wrong.
> 
> As an Access developer (yes, I know, MS is evil, but Access what I've 
> become good at, and it's catually a good product), I must beg to differ. 
>  Access/JET is certainly a relational database, not a flat file database. 
>  Access enforces relational integrity, supports transactions, rollbacks, 
> etc.  What Access is not is a Database server, though it makes a perfectly 
> good front-end for a database server.  Not only do I think Access is great, 
> I was, for a while, heavily involved in an attempt to create a GPL, 
> multi-platform replacement system.
> 
> The closest things to Access I have found in my wanderings appear to be 
> Meargent (part of the GNOME office project) and pgSQL, though the latter 
> works only with a PostgreSQL back-end.
> 
> Now, regarding whether a database server is superior to a client-based 
> database engine with file shareing, there are cases where the file sharing 
> system is superior.  Those are the cases where you need a database, but you 
> don't need the hassle of installing a server or hiring a DBA.  You can copy 
> your database file onto a CD, take it home, and open it up.  You don't have 
> to create a backup, go home, log into your server as an administrator, 
> create a database instance, decide where to put your log files, etc., then 
> restore from the backup, ...
> 
> 
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