Software

Ask something
Discussion Locked

What kind of database do I need?

0 helpful
8 replies

by carl_wicker

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I'm currently Manager of a Record Shop (UK), I am thinking of setting up a E-Commerce version of the shop.

Due to the large ammount of items in the store we would require some kind of Database, And I would like be able to automatically update from the shops computer as changes are made.

Is this a lot to ask?. And more importantly, is it something that I can do myslef? I have been using HTML and stuff for quite a few years but never dabbled with ASP much.

Oh and for my final question... Does anyone know any online tutorials to get me started?

Many thanks,

Carl.

8 replies

by quaribc

I'm assuming you would like to sell some of your inventory online. Well, since you want to connect your offline database with your online database and if you plan to use ASP....I would say Microsoft Access or even better MS SQL Server. The latter database is much more stable, but does cost more.
Hope that helped and good luck.

by bill

Hi,

First of all stay away from asp. If you want your store and your server under constant attack then asp would be the way to go. ")

Next I would use php and mysql. Not only are they faster, they are both free and have a large Open Source community to get help with stuff you need.

That's my thoughts anyway.

Good luck.

[Bill]

by spa_mkiller

Avoid any of the microsoft stuff.
Using microsoft stuff (sql server, access, asp, vb) is an open invitation to hackers.

Plus, that microsoft stuff can get really expensive.

if you are going to have the server in-house.
Get a intel/amd pc and install a flavor of linux on it. Can download the linux software for free from Redhat, Debian etc...
Unless you know unix/linux, pay to have somebody install it and SECURE it.
The same goes for NT, XP, 2000. Except, with the MS stuff you will need an admin on payroll to constantly update for new patches.

Database: mySQL. Free. Very easy to use.
Language: PHP. Free. Easy to use and very easy to learn. OR
Language: Perl. Free. more difficult to learn. But, can be much more flexable and powerful than PHP.

Good luck.

by adam

Yes you can do it yourself. It might start out simple but that is fine.
First, are you putting up a server or buying space?
Second, do you have ANY programming experience...even a yeaching language like pascal?
if so delve.
PHP and MySQL will get you started. And unless i am loosing my mind the Berkly tables (in MySQL) are transactional. i know it says right below they are not ~shrugs.
Perl...perl is a bit more intense. I love it but i lost a year of my life to perl (not really, its just that the potential is so great its hard to know when to stop) but perl is scalable, you can learn a little bit. get a cpy of the Camel.

If you are putting up a server (the whole integrating with inventory bring me back to this) go whith an apache server on a MacOSX server (still love my macs) or Linus...in that order. The Mac is more graphical and just plain easier and the OSX server is a rather good buy, its sorta free BSD but not really. On the mac you can use the command line that is the staple of Linux.

I dont hate microsoft
but the security that keeps coming up...there is a reason.

Oh, buy lots of books.
if you have not spend $200 on books you dont know anything yet. O'Reily does ok...get the Camel (programming perl) and Javascript in that series...i will let ya know how the new edition of Using MySQL is when if it ever arrives.

Good Luck

by prw

I highly recommend using MySQL with PHP or Perl on an Apache web server running on Linux or Mac OS X.

by c#

>is it something that I can do myslef?

Only if you have a couple of months or so to learn everything you need to know. Otherwise its best to go with a packaged product that can use ASP and MSDE or SQL Server 2000. You will need transaction and replication support. These are not fully implemeted in PHP/MySQL and you could run into problems where there is no support. You could use Access if you eliminated wanting to do transaction updates to your database.

by simeon griggs

I too have minor experience, so i have a
question of my own.

I'd like to start using MySQL in conjunction with
ColdFusionMX...

So here's my questions...
a) Where to get MySQL from and
b) Where to get instructions on setting it
up/help when I need it.

by joeallister

i need to set up a simple database for
updating a company dealer list using a mac.
shall i use access or mySQL? is there any
difference in coding php on a mac compared
to PC?

also - can you use access with php or is it asp
only?

This discussion is closed to new replies.