PostgresQL

[TheOriginalH]

I have been asked to do a pretty big site outside of my usual day job. The companies language of choice is php (suits me ), but their db of choice is PostGreSQL.

Is is significantly different to mySQL? Does anyone have any good toots for working with php and PostGres?

Cheers,


H

[mw1]

Yes it is significantly different to MYsql.
The main differences are that you can use stored procedures(functions in postgresql) and triggers and use subselects.

I don't really like GUI's and Postgresql's command line interface is execllent.
But for a php web based interface - http://phppgadmin.sourceforge.net
and for a non web GUI interface (not out yet but soon) see http://www.commandprompt.com/entry.lxp?lxpe=126
Postgresql 7.2 has just been released.

[TheOriginalH]

Bugger. Thanks for that though - guess I'll have to get my learning hat back on! Any good toots?

[seanf]

This article might give you some help H
http://www.webmasterbase.com/article/542/

Sean

[filmfoto]

I would take a look at PEAR DB library, which is distributed with PHP. By using PEAR DB it is simple to code an application for a number of different db backends. Write once, use many so to speak. To get you up to speed, look at these tutorials:

PEAR DB Primer
Introduction to PEAR
Quick Start Guide to Pear DB






Cheers.

[TheOriginalH]

Nice one Sean and filmfoto, thanks!



H

[freakysid]

There was a huge stouch on slashdot a few months ago around some reported benchmarks between MySQL and PostreSQL.

PostegreSQL (originally deveped at UC Berkely) is more of a real RDMS than MySQL. I have been looking for an excuse to use PostgreSQL for ages now - but it is always too easy to just do a job in MySQL rather than get familiar with PostgreSQL. I believe Tim Purdeo (sp?) original owner of phpBuilder.com and creator of sourceforge.com is a PostgreSQL advocate.

Another good place to have look around for postgreSQL stuff might be http://openacs.org/ (there are probably more helpful resources around, I just don't know them).

If MySQL hadn't become the default open source database for web development a few years ago, then we would all be using PostgreSQL instead. The vibe I have picked up from the geek literature is that MySQL was in the right place at the right time a few years back, whereas PostgreSQL went through a period a few years back of rather sporadic and disorganised development so kind of missed the boat.

Best of luck. Tell us how it goes.

[Skunk]

Yup, www.phpbuilder.com has some good Postgres articles including one on how to move to it from mySQL (I think). I'm currently trying to resurrect a second hand 486 and turn it into a FreeBSD server so I can play around with things like Postgres properly