Re: [cobalt-users] Wish List...

[Kris Dahl <krislists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 8/2/00 7:09 AM, Robert G. Fisher at rfisher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> This is really less of a wish list, but after going through
> the web demo for the RaQ4, I can't help but wonder -- just
> when is Cobalt going to incorporate a database design tool
> into the UI?

Well, probably because the only web based one that is any good (that I am
awaer of) is phpMyAdmin.  Which is MySQL specific.

> In the RaQ3, PostgreSQL was shipped, my understanding that
> a product from InterBase is shipped with the RaQ4, now
> while as a geek I mourn the departure from PostgreSQL to
> a closed source application and thus wonder what the
> reasoning was for the switch...

Interbase is open source.  It has been released under the Interbase Public
License if I am not mistaken, which is essentially cut and paste from the
Mozilla Public License.

I think I, too, asked the question of why they went with Interbase--by all
the accounts I have found it is inferior to MySQL and PostgreSQL.  Support
is lacking as well.

> 2)  The database design tool integrated into the web UI.
> With PostgreSQL or MySQL for instance, the average
> manager who might be thrilled with the concept of
> having a free database platform, but chances are
> he won't understand how to operate it from the
> command line tools.  He might even understand
> how to use FrontPage or similiar tools to work
> with the ASP and ODBC tools to work from there,
> but actually setting up the DB, unless it's tied
> into something along the lines of pgAdmin (which
> let's face it, you have to go hunt for anyway..)
> then the onboard database may be left in the wind.

With MyODBC you can use any ODBC compliant client to access MySQL at least.
PostgreSQL has similar capabilities, I believe.  So they can use Access or
whatever.  I have a unique experience in that I learned SQL command line
before I learned any other database.  I tried to use Access a couple months
back--that was a real bass ackwards application.  I utterly hated the GUI,
as it overcomplicated everything.  Anyway, my point is that sometimes it
important for the user to learn how to set something up on their own rather
than have a 'turn-key' solution.

I'm not sure if it is a good idea to have a bunch of so-called database
developers making these 'secure' web applications if they don't have the
knowledge to do so.  I guess I call it "knowing enough to be dangerous".
They obviously won't be aware of technical and security issues, etc., and
that can be a problem.

I have the opinion that Cobalt is actually marketing their products in an
irresponsible manner.  Running a webserver can be done by someone with a
minimum amount of experience.  Running a Web Hosting company, ISP, ASP or
even just a full-on website requires a LOT of experience.  To do it right,
anyway.  But a lot of the Cobalt marketing (and especially the mail-order
companies speils) makes you think that *anyone* can do it and that its a
piece of cake.  Then someone buys it, trys it and comes on this list saying
its a POS because they can't figure out DNS.

I guess I am saying that I think a barrier of entry can be a good thing
sometimes.