Ahh and let us not forget that postgresql runs beautifully (so far as I can tell) under Mac OS X, an operating system whose user base demands easy-to-use GUI software.
Pgaccess is a different story however-- I haven't gotten it to work yet because tcl/tk is not quite working... Haven't had any time to look at it yet. Best regards, Michael Ditto On 7/9/02 4:14 PM, "Eric Redmond" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Iım afraid that I donıt hold as much faith as you that Linux will become the > ³defacto standard² toolset for all website servers. MS, despite its major > shortcomings, is fairly slow and steady when it comes to improvements to its > OS. That said, Access is crap because no one uses it for what it was built to > be used for. And I would imagine that MS would rather spend their time/money > on SQL Server development. I agree with you that pgsql needs a more powerful, > GUI interface. The QBE interface in Access is nice. However, I donıt agree > that it is unimportant to have a Windows version. Point being, that Linux > users are used to and sadly often expect poor interfaces with the programs > they use. Windows users are far less forgiving. If, what you are talking > about, is truly wide spread use for PCıs and small-time web-servers then a > Windows interface is damn near necessary. > > > > Eric > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 4:05 PM > To: PostGreSQL Hackers > Subject: Re: [HACKERS] pg_access > > > > I'm pleased to see some renewed interest in pg_access. It seems obvious to me > that MS Access is not currently...and probably never will be able to handle > data in a robust and reliable fashion. MS Access' apparent success is due to > the user interface quality and "ease of use" for "non-programmers". The > "Relationships View" window, for example, is one of the best and most useful > features ever invented for any database toolset. > > > > In reality PostGreSQL is in a "strong position" to fill the "reliability void" > left by MS Access. However, the general public doesn't know much about the > short comings of Access, due to MS advertising and sales efforts. It seems > clear to me that the best way to "promote" the use of PostGreSQL is to offer > more "ease of use" GUI interfaces for changing table structures, indexes, > relationships, and upgrading older versions of files. Although it would be > nice to have a native Windows version of PostGreSQL, as well as a Linux > version, I expect Linux to replace Windows on a large number of PCs in the > near future. I think that "having a Windows version" will not be a > significant issue at that point. However, GUI based "ease of use" features > WILL be an extremely important issue and will increase in importance for the > rest of the forseeable future. Using a "browser" to implement the GUI toolset > is a good start, but it probably won't support the same degree of user > friendliness that is seen in the "Relationships View" window of MS Access, > where a relationship can be instantly "drawn" with a mouse, and fields added > to the Table with a simple "right click" on the Table header. > > > > If we do a good job of providing GUI based tools, similar to MS Access, as > well as conversion tools from Access to PostGreSQL for existing data, then > PostGreSQL and Linux should quickly become the "defacto standard" toolset for > all website servers. It seems to me like PostGreSQL is already on this > pathway, "like it or not", and that focussing on the GUI toolset is essential > to maintaining a good relationship with those who are new to the Linux world. > Whether you realize it or not, there is a humongous tidal wave of MS Access > users currently gathering enough database theory expertise to "realize" the MS > "snow job" they've been given about its reliability. They will be forced into > finding another solution and chances are VERY good they won't opt for MS SQL > Server or Oracle. If we are ready to give a solution to them...great....sorry > MS, but they seem to "like us better". If we are not ready, then our future > won't have anything to do with MS, only our own lack of vision. > > > > At our current level of GUI tools, we can't expect any positive response even > from fairly talented self taught computer programmers who have been interested > in Linux since 1998 or later. Soon, there will be many Windows IT Specialists > who will be seriously investigating the Linux OS and the "best database tools" > available for it. Add to this list "end users" who are fed up with daily > Windows crashes and are experimenting with hosting their own DSL based website > servers....and well...there's your tidal wave! Ready or not....the wave is > directly behind us....time to "paddle" for all we're worth! > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Arthur Baldwin > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html
