Re: Looking at PostgreSQL as alternative to MS SQL Server 2000

Iann,

> seems to me to be not much more than a backend data store at the moment,
> meaning too much validation, etc, would have to be done on the client
> end. I'm willing to be proven wrong about my assumption regarding it
> though. Similar issues surround other server SQL DBs too, as far as I
> can tell).

Not that PostgreSQL isn't superior <grin>, but you should also check out
SAP-DB and Firebird (formerly Interbase Open Source), which are full-services
OSS databases.

> So, from what I gather of the PostgreSQL info on the site, it seems
> there is currently no installable Windows version of the program. Is
> this correct? Also, there seem to be two Windows alternatives available:
> A Cygwin version, and a C++ version (for version 7.3.2).

Correct. The Windows "port" of PostgreSQL is still in development and is
expected to the stable in a few months. If you can wait 'til
August-September for real development, then you're fine.

> I presume the standard C++ data connection methods are used to
> communicate to the server. I gather that ASP is not available to
> communicate from a web point of view, so php would be the alternative?

There are all sorts of reasons not to use ASP, but lack of PostgreSQL
compatibility isn't one of them. You can use ASP + pgODBC if you like.

> If it isn't 'the done thing' to use PostgreSQL in the way I'm planning
> (effectively to provide it to clients, though obviously I wouldn't (and
> don't believe the Open License allows me) to charge them for it), then
> please let me know. I'm not out to offend either the Open Source or
> closed source communities - I'm just trying to make things cheaper, and
> perhaps better, for my clients.

You are welcome (even encouraged) to charge whatever you want for PostgreSQL
service and development. The license even allows you to charge for
PostgreSQL itself, you just have to look for gullable clients who don't know
they can download it for free. For that matter, you can "roll up" PostgreSQL
as a component of a larger proprietary system and charge for that ... the
license doesn't prevent you. Heck, it's how I make a living.

--
-Josh Berkus
Aglio Database Solutions
San Francisco