Sql

[Tormod]

javascript is client-side right? just asking.. :)

Yes. There is also something called "server-side javascript", however. But usually it is used to control browser functions.

[alexander]

its not exactly a script, i dont think so anyways, i think what Tormod refers to is actual Java, which is a server side lanuage... i might be wrong...

[TINNY]

java ain't server-side either. you download the applet and it plays in the applet viewer.

[Tormod]

There is in fact something called server-side javascript, but it is not widely used.

 

Here is an article about the differences:

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaScript/Client-side-and-Server-side-JavaScript/

 

Java is server side (it is in fact a widely used server technology - ColdFusion sits on top of JRun which is a java server). Java applets are standalound products that can be played in a java-compliant browser.

[alexander]

Hmm, interesting, never knew server-side JS existed, but, hmm interesting. Well, this is all explainable, I hate Java enough to not know about all the products related to it, Java would be much better if it was open-source...

[TINNY]

what makes a programming language open-source and what does not?

[alexander]

what makes a programming language open-source and what does not?

If the source for the compilers and so on is open and free for everyone....

Java is a proprietary language that is owned and supported by Sun Microsystems, and nobody else knows how the language works, plus you gotta pay Sun to use it.

[TINNY]

really gotta pay Sun? i thought the SDK is a free download. maybe the compiler's source isn't open.

what's a 'proprietary language'? what'd you mean nobody knows how java works? documentations are everywhere.

[TINNY]

oops, i came across this at java.sun.com :

Download JDK 5.0 Source Code

Sun has released the source code to the latest JDK for those who want to see the detail behind the leading development and deployment platform. Sun is making this source code available under two license types, SCSL and the new drastically simplified Java Research License (JRL).

[alexander]

yeah it took them five versions to realize that thy had to make their product open... thats sad... I see they still havent released this under GNU public license, but their license is very similar, again sadly, they paid some guy to write up another copy of the GNU public license.

As to proprietary, most tools for java software developement are not cheap:

Java studio developer is only $1990 a year (they have a promotion at $995 for a year right now)

java studio is $695

sun studio is $2,995

java dynamic management kit is $6,000

java verified trademark is $2,000

java studio creator is $99

java enterprise is $1,895

so, while the execution software and platforms are free, the developement software is not cheap, and if you have a company that runs java anything, be ready to pay big bucks to Sun...

dont let those prices scare you, if you want something really bad, say you are developing a cutting-edge software and need to know all the little details in sun's engine to possibly make your software more efficient, and maybe have extra capabilities, since you wont pay anyone to sit and read through JDK code, you probably want to have full support from the developers, well, there is a package that you can buy for 4 weeks. "The SunConnect Inception service from Sun Professional Services delivers a full set of inception materials to assist customers in defining a SunConnect-compliant application and associated infrastructure." for $110,000...

All of the things named above would be free with open software...

[TINNY]

we all know you hate micro-soft. but Sun too? sun hated microsoft because of monopoly. so Sun is also a monopoly?

so, while the execution software and platforms are free, the developement software is not cheap, and if you have a company that runs java anything, be ready to pay big bucks to Sun...

well, just use notepad. no need for the development software. and there is cheaper ones from third party companies like Borland, right? and highly probably also shareware and freeware ones.

All of the things named above would be free with open software...

its easy to be idealistic. but how sure are you that open software can arrive at such sophisticated and organized level? and you still pay for customer support even if it is open source.

[Tormod]

its easy to be idealistic. but how sure are you that open software can arrive at such sophisticated and organized level? and you still pay for customer support even if it is open source.

Linux is an example of sophisticated, well-organized open source software. Some companies charge for their distributions, but it is easy to get Linux free. Support is not a problem since the open-source community is incredibly large.

 

Open source is not only about being idealistic. It's about collaborating to produce professional tools. For many of the developers this may be an idealistic work but others do it for a living.

[Tormod]

I realize this thread is moving towards a different topic. Maybe we should split out the open-source discussion into a separate thread.

[TINNY]

no need to worry. just digressing a bit.

ok, back on track:

It is not possible to open two databases simultaneously right? we have to disconnect the first one to open another one?

we do we need different databases? why not just create different tables?

Or, why do we need two tables when we could just do two databases so that we could connect to just one database instead. Which is better of the two ways?

Or, even better, why do we need databases if we could just use text files?

How is mySQL an open source? what does it take to bulid database software?

[Tormod]

It is not possible to open two databases simultaneously right? we have to disconnect the first one to open another one?

Yes, usually.

 

why not just create different tables?

This is what I do. Everything is kept in one database. Just use different table prefixes for different applications (ie, "vb3_users") so that you can distinguish the tables when browsing the database.

 

Or, why do we need two tables when we could just do two databases so that we could connect to just one database instead. Which is better of the two ways?

Two databases would require a lot more maintenance!

 

Or, even better, why do we need databases if we could just use text files?

Text files are okay for very small things, like a short list of members or server logs where data is not being constantly changed. For everything else a client/server database is recommended - MySQL or MS SQL are excellent for the web, whereas Access is not recommended due to capacity problems, at least in shared environments.

 

How is mySQL an open source? what does it take to bulid database software?

Because it is distributed with the GNU Open Source license. And I wouldn't think about building a database product - use the ones that exist and build your own applications around them.

[TINNY]

Two databases would require a lot more maintenance!

like what?

what's the difference between a database and a table? is the maintenance problem more important than being able to simultanieously access two databases?

Text files are okay for very small things, like a short list of members or server logs where data is not being constantly changed. For everything else a client/server database is recommended - MySQL or MS SQL are excellent for the web, whereas Access is not recommended due to capacity problems, at least in shared environments.

why is this so? i mean, what does a database program do?

[Tormod]

like what?

what's the difference between a database and a table? is the maintenance problem more important than being able to simultanieously access two databases?

A database has many tables. A table is a part of a database.

 

Tables can be related. Databases can not (okay, there are techniques and workarounds for this, but I would not recommend it).

 

what does a database program do?

It takes care of data by ordering them into tables which can be indexed and crosslinked and optimized for searching. You can then access and modify the data using standard SQL queries.