Ponderations

[binidj]

So I'm pondering dipping my toe into the big, scary world of online databases ... though it's entirely possible that I'll chicken out when I see just how nasty they are. As a result of this foolhardy notion I was hoping that you, gentle reader, could suggest a database that might be a useful place to start. I've had a brief look at MySQL but the community version looks aimed at database developers as opposed to someone like me; and the network version is beyond my price range at the moment.

Furthermore I had decided to use php (well, I was thinking of maybe learning a bit of php anyway) as opposed to asp or vbscript to call the database from a website . From what I've seen, php looks more 'dullard-friendly' ... is this a wise decision? What reasons are there for avoiding php?

Hmm, the more I write, the more I think that maybe I should do this the old-fashioned way with very long pages of html.

Comments

[wildwinter.livejournal.com]

It all rather depends whether you're setting up a server yourself or writing pages hosted on someone else's server.

Most webhosts these days will include PHP and probably MySQL pre-installed. Many include graphical tools to manipulate MySQL; to populate databases and the like. This is probably a good starting point.

If you're installing everything from scratch, things will be slightly tougher - but if it's Linux, the Linux Apache MySQL PHP (LAMP) setup is extremely common and there should be lots of how-to documents out there on setting it up.

I personally use MySQL and PHP all the time; but I really don't know how to judge whether it's easy to pick up or not, I'm afraid, as I've used computers for far too long and so what I think might be easy might in fact be dreadfully obscure. Am happy to help out / give pointers if you get stuck, tho'...

However I wouldn't touch ASP/VBScript with a barge pole. But that's just personal preference and anti-Gates-ness. :-)

[wildwinter.livejournal.com]

Oh, while I think on it...

I would definitely plump for PHP and MySQL over many other setups, just because there is a huge user-base out there, so there are lots of tutorials/helpsites - and most of the questions you want to ask will already have been asked somewhere. It's just a case of figuring out where to ask the questions. :-)

And if you do go for MySQL, I mentioned graphical tools - there are a bunch of such tools you can pick up for free which should make your life easier.

Hope that's of some help.

[planegate.livejournal.com]

i would go php & mysql also, having done both php and asp its about much the same but theres alot more pre written stuff for php.

[s0b.livejournal.com]

I agree with all the other geeks

MySQL and PHP gives you a HUGE amount of flexibility to do simple things and the power to do very complicated things:

[oldnick.livejournal.com]

What they've all said - plus there are an awful lot of tools/systems written in PHP already, which can be installed and worked from, rather than starting from scratch.

[anatosuchus.livejournal.com]

Many "it depends" factors here. Primarily:
(a) What do you actually want to do?
(b) Who is hosting this and what capabilities do they provide?

Personally I dislike PHP as it seems to get rather unwieldy quickly (though better that than something platform specific such as ASP or VBScript). On the other hand, it's most likely to be available for hosting companies. If I had control of the machine I was running on I'd use Python plus its built in AnyDBM modules for small scale stuff, and Python + MySQL for larger scale stuff.

[steve-c.livejournal.com]

I go with MySQL + PHP also; it's a combination I use pretty-much every day at work; if you need any help then I'd be happy to offer it.

[binidj.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the helpful responses, I may well be in touch at some point in the future for more specific advice. For now I need to wait until my host gets back to me so that I know what is in place and what I need to get.

Also time to throw money at Amazon.