[dba-Tech] What I hate about Linux

Hi Peter:

Aside: For the user who just wants a simple database, with tables, forms, reports, macros and attaches to a variety of mail and many relational databases like MS Access, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Address books, ADO, spreadsheets, text files and so and so on...there is LibreOffice 4.1 BASE, for power users...all GUI.

Jim  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Brawley" <peter.brawley at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues" <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:52:46 PM
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] What I hate about Linux

On 2013-12-10 4:22 PM, Arthur Fuller wrote:
> The following link describes how to uninstall and then re-install a
> corrupted version of MySQL 5.x on Linux.
>
> http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-completely-reinstall-mysql-server/

Yes, that looks sound & complete.

>
> Compare that to the Windows 3-step:
> 1. Back up the data directory.
> 2. Un-install the program.
> 3. Install the program

For MySQL, that's neither sound nor complete; it'll often fail.

>
> Or even worse, the 1-click recovery, as in Office or SQL Server or numerous
> other programs:
> 1. Repair.

It's much more difficult to write a comprehensive GUI interface for 
RDBMS maintenance than it is to write just the maintenance logic and 
stub its atoms out to a commandline, so the comprehensive GUIs of SQL 
Server & Oracle costs big bucks.

>
> This article is an excellent summary of why Windows continues to win the
> battle for the desktop. As soon as something goes wrong, the Linux user is
> off into the frightening world of the command line -- and not once, not
> twice, but several times.

Users who're frightened by the commandline shouldn't try to manage 
MySQL, or MariaDB, or PostGres &c installations. They have two 
choices---hire a MySQL DBA, or pay for something like SQL Server.

>
> The very least that vendors could do is add an icon to the desktop or the
> menu. But apparently, that is stooping too low. As long as that situation
> persists, Linux will never win the desktop, despite the admirable efforts
> of the Ubuntu and Mint etc. boys. They are writing for the Highest Common
> Denominator. Bill and Steve chose instead to write for the Lowest Common
> Denominator.

If a user can't find the commandline, see above.

>
> I run them side by side almost always, and can see obvious advantages to
> Linux, when everything goes well, but even then, could the vendors not
> possibly supply an addition to the desktop that leads to Uninstall/Repair?
> Talk about Shooting Yourself in the Foot! Maybe the real hurdle to surmount
> is their collective refusal to recognize that Windows and Apple make it so
> much simpler?

Apple has a comprehensive DB interface? What is it?

For Windows RDBMSs, that simplicity comes at an understandable price of 
something like $5-10K/seat.

PB


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