If you were to hear the word “database” right now, the first name that’ll probably pop into your head would be “MySQL”. But unless you are deep into the coding or web administration life, the chances of your actually knowing what MySQL means is slim to none.
Why? Well, to begin with, most of the more famous and publicly known databases are usually the licensed properties of huge corporations who have the deep pockets and apply massive marketing campaigns to make their products known globally. Wherever you go you will be bombarded with their names or the applications that use them (most of the times are also their own licensed products).
It is only when you get to writing the code yourself that you realize that there is a whole different sort of “free” databases out there. Most programmers who write code for public consumption use these sorts more out of choice than financial reasons. They actively seek MySQL because it is, for the most part, absolutely free under the GNU License agreement which states that if you use the database for personal use, you may do so for free. But, should you want to use it for public purposes you would have to pay about $400 – a price that is still much cheaper than most of the proprietary databases.
But, one thing you might not be aware of is that MySQL is so popular that you might even be using it without knowing it. If you have a WordPress blog, then you are a user. Spend your days on Facebook? Then you are a MySQL user. Do you watch videos on YouTube? Yep, you too are a user.
So, what secrets do web designers and masters know that makes them opt for MySQL? Well, let’s look at some of the facts:
- It is Unbound: When you get to work with MySQL you are not bound or held back by the choice of operating environment you can run it on. Do you want to run it on a Windows Server? Go ahead. Is your server a Linux or UNIX server? No, problem – you can still run MySQL on it. Just try mixing the operating systems with the other licensed databases and see the mess that follows.
- Unmatched Performance: Sometimes, when you opt for one thing you usually do it at the cost of another. For example, if you want to have a database with fast response times during reading and writing you will have to sacrifice its size; you trim it for a quicker search result delivery. On the other hand, if you want it to hold a large amount of data, it will do so at the cost of your response time.
This isn’t the case with MySQL. It serves as the database of choice for major online companies because of its high-performance query engine which has a rapid response time, irrespective of the data size – which is usually immense.
- Security with no Extra Charge: One of the selling points that is constantly pushed by corporate database companies is that the extra cost you pay could ensure you more security.
But, so far, MySQL has proven to be as secure a database as any of the premium ones out there – it might not be greater, but it definitely isn’t any less secure than any of the databases on the market today. With constant tuning, patching and updating you can have a server that no one can bring down.
- Easy To Setup: Anyone who has ever tried to install and configure any of the major, premium databases on the market will know what this word truly means: “Impossible!”
If it isn’t the installation process itself that is too complicated to figure out, you will find that after everything has been done (or you think it has) – you won’t be able to do anything with the database, because you had forgotten to do one thing or another.
The beauty of installing MySQL is that all it takes to have a fully functional database up and running is a mere 15 minutes. It is all pretty straight forward setup process. It becomes even easier if you have to move an already installed database from one server to another – with easy to use graphical and management and migration tools the job can be done in a “jiffy”.
- Cheaper to Administer: While it’s belonging to the open-source software family might make MySQL a relatively cheap database, that isn’t the only advantage administrators get from it. They save money over extended times of use because the databases are reliable and are easy to maintain. Administrators don’t have to waste precious time troubleshooting issues related to performance or downtime, thus freeing them to do work that is more essential and important.
MySQL is also one of the most easy to use and understand databases out there. Administrators don’t need to spend much time or money to learn how to manage it.
- It’s Not Alone: Although all this talk about MySQL might sound like all it is nothing more than a big box that is used to store data, that isn’t true.
As anyone that uses databases knows, there are many layers of software between the database and the application that accesses it. Without this intermediate software connection, administrators would have to search for a pack of connectors every time they created a website or an application.
Fortunately, MySQL comes with its own comprehensive support for all application development requirements. The database supports stored procedures, triggers, functions, views cursors, ANSI-standard SQL and much more. If database-to-database connection is required, MySQL comes with drivers like ODBC, so that any of the front end software can seamlessly present information from a mixture of servers.
- Plenty of Support: First of all, MySQL can be bought under a licensing scheme that allows administrators to get all the support they might need from the creators of the database. The company, MySQL AB, offers support and maintenance services that include patching and code editing for a low price of $3,000 per year.
But, with the popularity that MySQL has achieved all over the world there are forums and support groups all over the internet, that it makes paying for the services an unnecessary task.
With all these, and many more, advantages on offer it would truly be insane for an administrator to go for anything but MySQL.
