[ubuntu-za] Database Problems

[Matthew French]

Hi Ian,

On 23 Jan 2010, at 9:03 PM, Ian Whitfield wrote:
> I think I need something more robust. Back to PostgreSQL I guess - just 
> need to get the damned thing running.
> 
> Why is this such a mission???
> 
> From a very un-happy bunny

Your frustration is quite understandable. I suspect part of the problem is wanting to be as productive in a new system as you were in a system you understand very well.

Linux has hundreds of excellent development tools, but I cannot think of any that work just like Access. Which could well be part of the problem.

Unfortunately the Linux community doesn't really go for large monolithic applications.[1] The Linux philosophy, inherited from Unix, is to have tools that do one job and do it well. The down side is that if you are new to the environment you have to sift through all the choices and find something that works for you. Even setting up a simple mail server needs one to choose at least five separate components.

Of course the other option is to ask people what works for them. So here is a set of tools I could recommend, although others might have their own choices:
1. PostgreSQL - database server
2. pgAdmin - administration GUI (create tables, indexes, edit data directly)
3. Apache - web server
3. Ruby on Rails - development framework
4. KompoZer - web page layout tool 

You'll notice I have gone with a web based application. Unfortunately most of the easier to use environments are web based and even if the application will only ever be used locally, it is easier to write a web application. Hopefully once you get to grips with them you will understand why. 

I have picked Rails because this works a lot like Access, and even automates the CRUD.[2] The problem is that it means learning a new programming language and a new framework, but you should pick them up pretty quickly.  This looks like a good place to start:
http://guides.rails.info/getting_started.html

After choosing a tool chain, the next step is to get them all working together. This can be the most frustrating part, as you have discovered. The good news is that once you have everything working together it gets easier. 

I realise this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I think putting in the extra effort will be worth it.  So please hang in there and hopefully in a couple of months time you will be telling everyone how much fun you are having with Linux. :) 

I will follow up with some suggestions on PostgreSQL. But like Johan I felt it was important that you understand the Linux community works a little differently to what you might be used to. However, it does work.

HTH,

- Matthew

[1] Except the kernel. Sorry, bit of an in-joke there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel#Tanenbaum-Torvalds_debate

[2] Yes - CRUD is actually a technical term, and something Access programmers intuitively understand even if they don't have a name for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Create,_read,_update_and_delete