News

First Look: MySQL 5.1 Open Source Database

MySQL 5.1 was released by Sun Microsystems in April, but I decided to test it out this month. I downloaded the Windows version of this open source database management app and gave it a spin.

The setup script added the MySQL server component with minimal interaction on my part. A wizard helped me perform the initial configuration and define a root password. After that, MySQL was fully functional and I was able to get to work right away.

I tested MySQL with a GUI frontend. Database operations were very fast during my test run, even with my larger databases. I did not encounter any bugs or problems during the tests.

I was extremely impressed with how easy it was to deploy MySQL 5.1 on a Windows system. In contrast, installation on other platforms (such as Linux) has typically been much more difficult.

MySQL 5.1 includes extensive documentation, with a SQL language reference in addition to MySQL troubleshooting tips. The language reference is an exceptional addition to the package, since many software manuals only teach the user how to operate the software itself.

By default, MySQL 5.1 uses a command line environment for running SQL statements. SQL code must by typed directly into the terminal by the user. When SELECT and SHOW queries are executed on the command line, the data are presented in a nice tabular format. However, distortion can occur if your terminal window is not wide enough. It can cause the text to wrap to the next line.

Expert users may prefer the command line. Other users may wish to install a front-end, such as phpMyAdmin or HeidiSQL, which can make working with databases and tables easier. MySQL has powerful server-side and clustering functionality. However, it is also very useful on the client side for smaller applications, especially when combined with a GUI front-end.

MySQL 5.1 is definitely worth a try, with its many new features listed here. The database app works with Windows x64, Mac OS X and various forms of Linux and UNIX OSes. You can download Version 5.1 at this link.

About the Author

Will Kraft is a Web designer, technical consultant and freelance writer. He can be reached at [email protected]. Also, check out his blog at http://www.willkraftblog.com.

comments powered by Disqus

Featured

  • Windows Community Toolkit v8.2 Adds Native AOT Support

    Microsoft shipped Windows Community Toolkit v8.2, an incremental update to the open-source collection of helper functions and other resources designed to simplify the development of Windows applications. The main new feature is support for native ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation.

  • New 'Visual Studio Hub' 1-Stop-Shop for GitHub Copilot Resources, More

    Unsurprisingly, GitHub Copilot resources are front-and-center in Microsoft's new Visual Studio Hub, a one-stop-shop for all things concerning your favorite IDE.

  • Mastering Blazor Authentication and Authorization

    At the Visual Studio Live! @ Microsoft HQ developer conference set for August, Rockford Lhotka will explain the ins and outs of authentication across Blazor Server, WebAssembly, and .NET MAUI Hybrid apps, and show how to use identity and claims to customize application behavior through fine-grained authorization.

  • Linear Support Vector Regression from Scratch Using C# with Evolutionary Training

    Dr. James McCaffrey from Microsoft Research presents a complete end-to-end demonstration of the linear support vector regression (linear SVR) technique, where the goal is to predict a single numeric value. A linear SVR model uses an unusual error/loss function and cannot be trained using standard simple techniques, and so evolutionary optimization training is used.

  • Low-Code Report Says AI Will Enhance, Not Replace DIY Dev Tools

    Along with replacing software developers and possibly killing humanity, advanced AI is seen by many as a death knell for the do-it-yourself, low-code/no-code tooling industry, but a new report belies that notion.

Most   Popular

Subscribe on YouTube