Today, Vikram shows us the basics of a database and are introduced to concepts like Database Management Systems and Relational Database Management Systems. We are also given a thorough overview of MySQL and its features. This excerpt comes from chapter one of MySQL: The Complete Reference, by Vikram Vaswani (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, ISBN 0-07-222477-0, 2004).
As you might imagine, this kind of information management has important implications—both in business and elsewhere, which is just one of the many reasons why RDBMSs are so popular in today’s wired world. Large software companies such as Microsoft and Oracle spend millions annually on researching and developing commercial database systems, well aware that the old adage “knowledge is power” is as true here as it was when Sir Francis Bacon first uttered it.
These commercial RDBMSs are powerful, flexible, feature-rich software systems that are designed specifically for high-volume, transaction-heavy, mission-critical applications; they can (and do) zip through millions of records and perform hundreds of transactions every second without batting an eyelid.
The only problem? They’re way beyond the budget of most small- and medium-sized businesses, which typically run smaller, less complex applications that do not require quite so much firepower.
What these users usually need is a fast, reliable alternative that meets their needs in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
That’s where MySQL comes in.
Doing Your Homework
Interested in learning more about relational database management systems? Consider adding the following book to your shopping list: Introduction to Relational Databases and SQL Programming, by Catherine Creary and Christopher Allen (McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-222924-1, 2003).
Remember: this is chapter one of MySQL: The Complete Reference, by Vikram Vaswani (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, ISBN 0-07-222477-0, 2004). Vikram is the founder of Melonfire, and has had numerous articles featured on Dev Shed. Buy this book now.
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