Re: Looking for Suggestion on Learning

On Saturday, February 05, 2011 9:30:13 am ray wrote:
> I have built a few databases with MS Access and I would like to learn
> how to use pgsql. I have found some examples but they have been too
> complex to follow or to abstract with no specific details.
>
> I would like to find a simple example that would take me from an open
> source design tool to a simple method to implement the design.
>
> I would like to find a simple guide, tutorial or example and will
> appreciate any help.
>
> ray

It will be difficult to find a simple drop in replacement for what you had with
Access. The closest thing I can think of is OpenOffice/LibreOffice Base
(http://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Database_1) and that is not as well
integrated. Most Open Source development tend to use chains of tools,
admin/creation --> driver/middle layer --> GUI design, with each aspect handled
by a different program. I tend to handle admin/creation with text files run
through psql. I work with Python so my database driver is psycopg2. This in turn
gets used by a framework. For desktop apps I use Dabo (http://dabodev.com/)
Since the final output is determined by mix and match it is hard to find a 1-2-3
tutorial. My suggestion is to make a list of your needs and work back from
there:

1) What OS(s) do I want to deploy on?
2) What programming language(s) do I want to work with?
3) Where do I want to deploy, desktop/Web?
4) What do I want to build, simple SOHO apps .... enterprise apps?

With answers to these questions it would be possible to narrow the field a bit.
Unfortunately, it is one of those good news/bad news situations. Good news, Open
Source is about a variety of choices. Bad news, Open Source is about a variety
of choices.

--
Adrian Klaver
adrian(dot)klaver(at)gmail(dot)com