Re: Is my MySQL Gaining ? - Mailing list pgsql-general

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003, Keith C. Perry wrote:

> > Admittedly this deterrent won't stop a determined newbie from finding
> > what they are after, but I'm sure there are some folk who would just
> > assume that postgres is deficient in this area. Note some previous posts
> > from others which demonstrates my point.
> > http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-general/2003-12/msg01358.php
> >
> > This gentleman finally found pgadmin III which solved his problem. But
> > I'm sure he had to look for it.
>
> Short of the README file with the source release and reorganizing the web site.
>  I don't see what else could be done.  I sincerely hope we're not going the path
> of MS and trying to make things "idiot proof".  PostgreSQL is robust complex
> product and at a certain point I would think the powers that be would have to
> say enough is enough as it relates to trying to make things easy.
>
> On a side note though, I did try to search of "php interface" (something I know
> nothing about as it relates to PG) from the search link on the main website and
> I had to cancel it because it never returned anything after several minutes.
> That definitely would be frustrating to a new/prospective user.
>
>
>

I suggest that these issues, and, other issues on the thread, go to the
points that I raised, in the thread about PostgreSQL training.

From my understanding, issues such as the PHP API, the Perl DBI, and
other interfacing, for example, are covered in the "Teach Yourself MySQL
In 21 Days" book. Similarly, also, things like pgaccess and pgadmin,
could be included in a "Teach Yourself PostgreSQL in 21 Days" book, or
equivalent, if someone would create one. And, I believe that such a
book, if done well, would have a market

This is why, as I previously said, what is needed, is a formalised,
standardised, structured, PostgreSQL training course (or set of
courses).

It is alright for people in this thread, to say "But they are MySQL, and
MySQL is not as powerful as PostgreSQL, so who cares what advantages
there are in MySQL", but MySQL appears to be more mature, as it has
things like standardised, formalised, structured, training courses and
secrtifications, and, the "Teach Yourself MySQL in 21 Days" book, and
that series of books has set exercises, etc, to aid the learning, and,
as far as I am aware, PostgreSQL has no equivalent of those things.

What PostgreSQL appears to have, is various books about it, and,
resources scattered, those books and resources, from my understanding,
are reference books and resources, rather than learning (Teach
Yourself) resources, and various institutions offering training,
in specific locations. But, it appears to have nothing like the MySQL
worldwide standardised, formalised, structured, training and
certification, and, the Teach Yourself MySQL in 21 Days" book.

Perhaps, a good development would be to develop a PostgreSQL curriculum,
with modules, starting with how to instal and configure PostgreSQL,
database design techniques, using basic SQL, using more advanced
features of SQL, API's, DBI's and ODBC and JDBC, optimising queries,
etc, showing schema, etc, and performance tuning, and so on.

Doing this on a top-down basis, could result in having published on the
web, HTML pages and printable PDF files, of modules, that would take a
person from little or no database knowledge, through to the level of
PostgreSQL guru.

There appears to have been resistance to these things, using the "build
it and they will come" attitude - "PostgreSQL is a better DBMS, so
people will flock to it", but, if it is made difficult for people to
migrate, or to learn it, are they really likely to flock to PostgreSQL?

This may appear like "flogging a dead horse", but, as I have said, I
believe that this has been covered in the PostgreSQL training thread,
and, again, I suggest that what PostgreSQL really needs, is formalised,
standardised, structured, training and certification, and, the
willingness of the PostgreSQL community to have these things, otherwise,
as I said in the aforementioned thread, the PostgreSQL people are to be
regarded as with the Perl community people - using the title JAPH - for
the Perl community, "Just Another Perl Hacker", and, for the PostgreSQL
community, "Just Another PostgreSQL Hacker". Sure, Perl is more powerful
than PHP, but Perl practitioners tend to be regarded as sorcerers, and
Perl programming, as a black art, and, PostgreSQL probably the same, in
the absence of formalised, standardised, structured, training and
certification, and, resources like the Teach Yourself MySQL in 21 Days"
book, which things would equally make learning PostgreSQL, and, gaining
formal recognition for PostgreSQL skills, through the certifications,
available to the common people, rather than making PostgreSQL
programming, a black art with a secret society atmosphere, with the
policy "If you can find it, you might be able to learn it".

It is useful, to have the resources that exist, including the support
from the mailing lists, but, what is sorely lacking, is the existence
of the things that I have repeatedly mentioned; formalised,
standardised, structured, training and certification, and, a "Teach
Yourself PostgreSQLin 21 Days" book, with appropriate set exercises, as
in any good trauining course.

When PostgreSQL has these, then it will have achieved the maturity of
MySQL, and other DBMS's, like Oracle, etc., and, then, PostgreSQL might
become widely used, and displace the other DBMS's.

Until then, it will likely be still regarded as a hacker's DBMS, as Perl
is regarded a language for hackers, or hack programmers.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
 you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
  Chapter 28 of
  "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
  A Trilogy In Four Parts",
  written by Douglas Adams,
  published by Pan Books, 1992
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