> Once you know the basics of SQL, it will not be that difficult to use MySQL, > PostgreSQL, etc. However, the Database Design class should not be specific > to the applications. > > Aside: I've heard that MySQL is not a "real" DBMS compared with PostgreSQL. > Answer: MySQL lacks certain SQL-standard compliance.
I hate to harp on this, but it's important. MySQL is not usable as a learning tool, simply because the authors have made the choice to ignore standards and implement a bastardized subset of the SQL standard in their own way. Not only do they ignore large parts of the standard (subselects being the obvious example), they have changed the functionality of some operators, such as ||, to do something completely different. Given that all other RDBMS systems, including PostgreSQL, FoxPro, and Access, follow the standard pretty much to a T, there's no reason to let students learn something which will probably be worthless to the later on. There is no excuse to use MySQL in a classroom situation. PostgreSQL is available for the same price (free) and implements a nearly complete set of the standard. They at least don't purposely ignore the standard. Keep in mind that I use MySQL for some applications, but that's because its text handling was nice and I needed that at the time. They're being moved. Michael -- Michael Darrin Chaney [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.michaelchaney.com/ _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
