[PLUG] Database question

[Tim Bruce - PLUG]

On Fri, July 3, 2009 09:34, chris (fool) mccraw wrote:
> On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 09:27, Amy Kelly<engagedtone at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I agree with everything said so far, and add that you should try to
>>>> learn database design before jumping into SQL or which database to
>>>> use.
>>>
>>>   That's very good advice. Celko's "SQL Programming Style" does teach a
>>> lot
>>> about database design. One could probably find excellent instruction on
>>> normalization (and when to ignore that) on the Web.
>
> I'd actually disagree that you need to wolf down any textbooks before
> jumping in.  if you can find a good one-chapter "this is what
> relational databases are" wrote-up, for entry-level stuff it won't
> matter much which one you use and you don't need the finer points of
> understanding what database type to use (mysql) or even necessarily
> know why having tables indexed--it's obvious that it won't matter in
> your proposed application (low size/complexity).
>
> so if you love reading dense tech text, go for it--but don't let the
> reading hold you back.  you can, in fact, basically just jump in and
> do well enough.  just be ready to look back someday and say "well, i'd
> do that differently now!"
>
> i couldn't handle any of the documentation until i "designed" a couple
> of similar-scope databases to the one you described, and those apps
> still work fine.  i don't flaunt them on my resume, but i can tell you
> i wouldn't have written them at all if i had waited to read a textbook
> about it.
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG mailing list
> PLUG at lists.pdxlinux.org
> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>

Agreed, since this isn't a real project...yet.  Play around with a couple
of tables (since it's MySQL) in a scratch database (heck, for that
matter...call it "Amy" and give yourself full rights to it.)  Create
tables.... Insert Data...Update Data.  Do a few selects and pull data from
different tables that are related with a join.

OOBase and, while I hate to admit it, phpMyAdmin (she obviously has php
installed since she's using Joomla) are all good interfaces to try some of
this and not get too far over the head.  Also, installing the client tools
MySQL Query Browser and MySQL Administrator will help as well.

Just make sure you execute the sql command "flush privileges" after you
build YOUR user id.  ;)

Tim
-- 
Timothy J. Bruce

Registered Linux User #325725