Re: Getting started - Interfacing questions

On Mon, 7 Mar 2005, David wrote:

> For example, the php-based front-ends require apache. It just seems
> that in my case, at least, it's asking a lot to install apache on a
> machine that will never do any web-serving elsewhere in order to access
> a local database -- but -- perhaps the same could be said for using
> postgresql on a database that might see 300 entries at most, but I
> "wanna do it" :)

You are thinking and planning too much about this! IMO, anyway.

The very next step you should do is choose a type of computer (it is
generally agreed the *nix is best for postgreSQL - but some prefer
windows). Hey, I think you said you've got postgreSQL and psql running
already somewhere, is that on a local windows machine?

Probably the quickest way to get your feet wet is to get an account on a
*nix machine out on the web with PG and the language of your choice
already set up. Then you copy in one of the simple working sample
programs that use the language you choose and get it set up and running.
Yes, it will be on the web. This is a good thing. After all, PG is a
server database and there is a client built right into just about every
computer in the world, the ubiqitious web browser.

By that point you will see what changes you have to make to it for your
needs, you will understand by doing it.

Are you familiar with *nix?

There are those who use windows, but I think many more run PG on *nix
machines. An analogy here is imagine that you want to go live in Paris
for a year (and you don't know French). You could do it by seeking out
people of your own language to hang out with. Or you could just bite the
bullet and learn French which would probably be less work in the long run
than trying to live in Paris without learning French. And you'd learn
more in the long run.

Sorry for sounding so pompous, but that's the way I learned. (hopefully
I'm still learning!!!!).

It depends on what your motives are..... if you only want to set up a
small database on a local machine you should probably be using some simple
windows database made for that. If you want to learn about PostgreSQL you
should probably move to Paris and learn French. (so to speak.... pun
intended).

Especially if you are doing this as a learning experience.

So what are you running PG on now?

> I've never tried anything with php, perl, or python, but I've thought I
> should become familiar with at least one. I've been leaning toward
> python. Most of what I've dealt with in the past several years has been
> "C".

php, perl or python are good choices. C is good, too, but it will take
much longer to get it running.

But maybe I'm wrong. If you've got PG running on a windows machine
already maybe someone else here can give you or point you to a simple
example of some C client code that will compile and talk to your database
server.

Or you could stick to the Admin applications that run on windows and talk
to a PG server.

It sort of depends on what your goals are.

brew

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