[CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
I was in a similar situation and I just used CodeIgniter's scaffolding (http://codeigniter.com/user_guide/general/scaffolding.html ) feature to allow my users to add/edit data. It's pretty safe, and it looks neat and clean, too. Sean Hannan Web Developer, Sheridan Libraries Johns Hopkins University Ken Irwin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/30/08 9:35 AM Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less- techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non- admin- types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
We have been using MS Access linked through MyODBC. The user's rights are according to the permissions in the MySQL user table. Tobin Ken Irwin wrote: Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
I'd consider teaching them how to use SQL directly. I've done it at LibraryThing. I take employees from the simplest SELECTs all the way to a people-who-have-X-also-have-Y self-join in one long hands-on lesson. It doubles as a sort of test, and I've even used it in hiring. LibraryThing's two full-time librarians got there with flying colors; I've had programmers who stumbled. (Not surprisingly they didn't work out.) Once someone understands SQL itself, you can throw a helper, like PMA, at them too. I think there's a real opportunity for empowerment here. Teach a man to SELECT and he'll never have to, um, fish again. Tim On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Tim McGeary [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I use Webmin. http://www.webmin.com/ It gives me a GUI for all of my vital sysadmin needs that I can't remember how to do at the shell. It has a MySQL GUI interface that works very well. And you can setup user accounts to have access to certain parts of Webmin, like just MySQL. Easy RPM install, and inside Webmin is an app to upgrade itself. Can also install Perl modules, edit your php.ini file, etc. Cheers, Tim Tim McGeary Senior Systems Specialist Lehigh University 610-758-4998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Google Talk: timmcgeary Yahoo IM: timmcgeary Ken Irwin wrote: Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
This is why most Web applications have to implement CRUD interfaces. PHP is definitely for the uninitiated. Along the lines of CodeIgnitor, I would suggest using another framework Symfony. It's a very powerful, yet easy to learn framework, and it will autogenerate the CRUD for you. Really, some framework is probably the way to go for this, regardless of which you choose. - David -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Ken Irwin Sent: Wed 7/30/2008 6:35 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin? Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
Thanks for all the database suggestions. The Scaffolding function Sean suggested is more perfect than I dreamed possible. One day I'd probably benefit from learning the whole CodeIgniter framework; for now, this function will do just what I need. Thanks so much! Ken Sean Hannan wrote: I was in a similar situation and I just used CodeIgniter's scaffolding (http://codeigniter.com/user_guide/general/scaffolding.html ) feature to allow my users to add/edit data. It's pretty safe, and it looks neat and clean, too. Sean Hannan Web Developer, Sheridan Libraries Johns Hopkins University Ken Irwin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 07/30/08 9:35 AM Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less- techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non- admin- types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
This gets religious quickly, but, in my experience, programmers who learn on a framework miss out on their understanding of database necessities. They may not matter much when you have a low-traffic, low-content situation, but as your traffic and data grow you're going to want an understanding of how MySQL optimizes queries, what's expensive and what's not, and so forth. Although anyone can learn anything, experience is the best teacher, and, in my experience, frameworks encourage you to avoid that experience. For example, the Ruby programmers I've worked with have been unaware that MySQL only uses one index per table per select, causing them to index far more than they need, how joins work across different MySQL data types, the advantages of ganging your inserts together, etc. This stuff adds up fast. Of course, the same arguments could be leveled against PHP in favor of C, against C in favor of assembly, etc.. Abstraction always has merits and demerits. Tim On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:46 AM, Cloutman, David [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is why most Web applications have to implement CRUD interfaces. PHP is definitely for the uninitiated. Along the lines of CodeIgnitor, I would suggest using another framework Symfony. It's a very powerful, yet easy to learn framework, and it will autogenerate the CRUD for you. Really, some framework is probably the way to go for this, regardless of which you choose. - David -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Ken Irwin Sent: Wed 7/30/2008 6:35 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin? Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
I don't think he was asking about *programmers* creating or modifying *schema*. On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM, Tim Spalding [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This gets religious quickly, but, in my experience, programmers who learn on a framework miss out on their understanding of database necessities. They may not matter much when you have a low-traffic, low-content situation, but as your traffic and data grow you're going to want an understanding of how MySQL optimizes queries, what's expensive and what's not, and so forth. Although anyone can learn anything, experience is the best teacher, and, in my experience, frameworks encourage you to avoid that experience. For example, the Ruby programmers I've worked with have been unaware that MySQL only uses one index per table per select, causing them to index far more than they need, how joins work across different MySQL data types, the advantages of ganging your inserts together, etc. This stuff adds up fast. Of course, the same arguments could be leveled against PHP in favor of C, against C in favor of assembly, etc.. Abstraction always has merits and demerits. Tim On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 10:46 AM, Cloutman, David [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is why most Web applications have to implement CRUD interfaces. PHP is definitely for the uninitiated. Along the lines of CodeIgnitor, I would suggest using another framework Symfony. It's a very powerful, yet easy to learn framework, and it will autogenerate the CRUD for you. Really, some framework is probably the way to go for this, regardless of which you choose. - David -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries on behalf of Ken Irwin Sent: Wed 7/30/2008 6:35 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin? Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding -- Shawn Boyette [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
Shawn Boyette ☠ wrote: I don't think he was asking about *programmers* creating or modifying *schema*. It's true -- I just want a simple little data entry tool (which I've got now! That was easy.) I've been doing all of my development by hand, without the luxury of frameworks, not out of any programmerly virtue, but just out of simplicity -- ie, I've not taken the time to learn about frameworks. It sure would be nice to take the time at some point, and I'll keep Tim's injunctions about abstraction in mind when I do. *thanks and joy* Ken On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM, Tim Spalding [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This gets religious quickly, but, in my experience, programmers who learn on a framework miss out on their understanding of database necessities. They may not matter much when you have a low-traffic, low-content situation, but as your traffic and data grow you're going to want an understanding of how MySQL optimizes queries, what's expensive and what's not, and so forth. Although anyone can learn anything, experience is the best teacher, and, in my experience, frameworks encourage you to avoid that experience. For example, the Ruby programmers I've worked with have been unaware that MySQL only uses one index per table per select, causing them to index far more than they need, how joins work across different MySQL data types, the advantages of ganging your inserts together, etc. This stuff adds up fast. Of course, the same arguments could be leveled against PHP in favor of C, against C in favor of assembly, etc.. Abstraction always has merits and demerits. Tim -- Ken Irwin Reference Librarian Thomas Library, Wittenberg University
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
That reminds me of a better idea. Let's keep a real understanding of computers from less-techy colleagues at the library. That way no messy learning or understanding will take place, and we'll always be needed. Then we could start wearing white colors... T On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM, Alex Dolski [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: That reminds me of an idea for a photo sharing website I had, tentatively called LeftOutrJoinr. It would be like Flickr, but instead of pictures everywhere, visitors would be given a command line into which they would be able to enter their own SQL queries to call up photos to appear on the page via AJAX. I see it becoming quite popular among 3-5 people. Alex Tim Spalding wrote: I'd consider teaching them how to use SQL directly. I've done it at LibraryThing. I take employees from the simplest SELECTs all the way to a people-who-have-X-also-have-Y self-join in one long hands-on lesson. It doubles as a sort of test, and I've even used it in hiring. LibraryThing's two full-time librarians got there with flying colors; I've had programmers who stumbled. (Not surprisingly they didn't work out.) Once someone understands SQL itself, you can throw a helper, like PMA, at them too. I think there's a real opportunity for empowerment here. Teach a man to SELECT and he'll never have to, um, fish again. Tim On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Tim McGeary [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I use Webmin. http://www.webmin.com/ It gives me a GUI for all of my vital sysadmin needs that I can't remember how to do at the shell. It has a MySQL GUI interface that works very well. And you can setup user accounts to have access to certain parts of Webmin, like just MySQL. Easy RPM install, and inside Webmin is an app to upgrade itself. Can also install Perl modules, edit your php.ini file, etc. Cheers, Tim Tim McGeary Senior Systems Specialist Lehigh University 610-758-4998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Google Talk: timmcgeary Yahoo IM: timmcgeary Ken Irwin wrote: Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Alex A. Dolski Web Digitization Application Developer Lied Library, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 457041 Las Vegas, NV 89154-7041 (702) 895-2225 (phone) / (702) 895-2280 (fax) -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding
Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin?
Perhaps you should put together some MySQL training materials for librarians. A webinar, perhaps. I'd love it if my colleagues had those skills. I don't think there is that much interest, but I could be wrong. There are at least 101 ways enterprise level database skills could be put to work in my library. I'm pretty sick of our core technical solutions being Excel spreadsheets and the occasional Access database. Blech. - David --- David Cloutman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Electronic Services Librarian Marin County Free Library -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tim Spalding Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:49 AM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] what's friendlier less powerful than phpMyAdmin? That reminds me of a better idea. Let's keep a real understanding of computers from less-techy colleagues at the library. That way no messy learning or understanding will take place, and we'll always be needed. Then we could start wearing white colors... T On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM, Alex Dolski [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: That reminds me of an idea for a photo sharing website I had, tentatively called LeftOutrJoinr. It would be like Flickr, but instead of pictures everywhere, visitors would be given a command line into which they would be able to enter their own SQL queries to call up photos to appear on the page via AJAX. I see it becoming quite popular among 3-5 people. Alex Tim Spalding wrote: I'd consider teaching them how to use SQL directly. I've done it at LibraryThing. I take employees from the simplest SELECTs all the way to a people-who-have-X-also-have-Y self-join in one long hands-on lesson. It doubles as a sort of test, and I've even used it in hiring. LibraryThing's two full-time librarians got there with flying colors; I've had programmers who stumbled. (Not surprisingly they didn't work out.) Once someone understands SQL itself, you can throw a helper, like PMA, at them too. I think there's a real opportunity for empowerment here. Teach a man to SELECT and he'll never have to, um, fish again. Tim On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Tim McGeary [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I use Webmin. http://www.webmin.com/ It gives me a GUI for all of my vital sysadmin needs that I can't remember how to do at the shell. It has a MySQL GUI interface that works very well. And you can setup user accounts to have access to certain parts of Webmin, like just MySQL. Easy RPM install, and inside Webmin is an app to upgrade itself. Can also install Perl modules, edit your php.ini file, etc. Cheers, Tim Tim McGeary Senior Systems Specialist Lehigh University 610-758-4998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Google Talk: timmcgeary Yahoo IM: timmcgeary Ken Irwin wrote: Hi folks, I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of phpMyAdmin as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating database tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at just a few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, etc.). In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like that. I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? Thanks, Ken -- Alex A. Dolski Web Digitization Application Developer Lied Library, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 457041 Las Vegas, NV 89154-7041 (702) 895-2225 (phone) / (702) 895-2280 (fax) -- Check out my library at http://www.librarything.com/profile/timspalding Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm
