First off, I need to apologize for this email apps *stupid* quoting
features, I am using Lotus NOTes...
Charles, I think that in this case, your personal opinion may be a bit off.
Yes, it is quite easy to develop code that manipulates files in Perl. And,
yes, databases are just a collection of data in files (many times)...
BUT
- A MySQL solutions is not nearly as cumbersome as writing your own!
- If you write a "one-off" for each program you create, then you get hit by
a bus, I pity anyone that would need to come in and maintain the code.
- How do you handle multiple accesses? What if > 1 user hits the database
for writing at the same time? If you say "Locking", then how do you handle
the race-conditions that arise from normal file locking?
- The DBI interface is *super* easy to use, very well tested and very fast.
I unless you are talking about some other Perl database interfaces, I have
no idea where you get the opintion that "It still amazes me how all of
these cumbersome packages evry make
it to the marketplace". I don't think DBI could be much easier.
- As far as a learning tool, sure, learning how to manipulate files is a
great idea, but you would not want to do it for a project that will
actually be put to some use! What if it becomes popular? Flat-files can
handle quite a bit of data, but are MUCH slower and the possibility of
data-corruption is GREATLY increased as more people use the application
concurrently.
BOTTOM LINE
- If you are just doing a learning exercise in how to manipulate files,
fine.
- If you want to learn about databases and database interaction, Do Not
Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200! Go DIRECTLY to the DBI and use it! You may
not think it at this very moment, but once you learn programming a little
better, you will reap the benefits!
Good luck!
Brent
charles
<[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Maureen E Fischer
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
et> cc: (bcc: Brent
Michalski/STL/MASTERCARD)
Subject: Re: Perl/CGI mysql book
06/05/02 04:25 PM
Please respond to
cfaris
My personal opinion is that cutom databases are very easy to create in a
perl script and usually run faster and more efficient than cumbersome
packages. there are many perl freebies out there to start you in the right
direction and will also serve as a better learning tool. basically a
database is simply a function that takes input, formats it, opens a disk
file, and write the data to a disk file. In perl this can be done quite
easily. It still amazes me how all of these cumbersome packages evry make
it to the marketplace.
If you tell me what you are trying to do I can send you sections of code
that will make it easy.
Charles
Maureen E Fischer wrote:
> I am writing my first CGI application and after analysis of the data
> structure that is required I determined that a DBM file would not be
> sufficient. Mysql was suggested to me. Unfortunately I could not find
> A book that seemed based on Perl and sql. Everything I found connected
> Mysql to PHP -- which I know nothing about. Since I am new to almost
> Everyting except some ancient languages and systems I didn't want to
> Bite off yet another learning experience just yet. I did find and
> purchase "Writing CGI Applications with Perl", which did have a chapter
> on sql, but since I am having trouble with my first connect I think I
> will need more
> Help then the brief chapter can give me. Any suggestion would
> Be very welcome.
>
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