Strengths and Weaknesses of MySQL in Database Management

Users can communicate with the machine using a programming language. Today there are various types of programming languages have been developed. One of them is PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) which is used to create dynamic websites. In practice, dynamic and static websites store various data in a database server.

These data are in the form of URLs, fonts, usernames, passwords, and so on. Various data stored in databases are managed by a relational database management system called MySQL (My Structured Query Language).

The analogy is John who deliberately takes selfies using his cell phone. John’s photos are data, the photo gallery for storing these photos is called a database, and relational means that the data stored in the database is displayed in table form.

Understanding MySQL

Strengths and Weaknesses of MySQL in Database Management

MySQL (My Structured Query Language) is a relational database management system that uses the SQL (Structured Query Language) programming language as the basis for commands.

How to read MySQL is my-es-Kyo-el, not my sequel. According to Wikipedia, MySQL has been used by more than 6 million users. Besides being multi-channel and multi-user, MySQL is also open source.

This system is used free of charge under the GPL (General Public License), although it participates in distributing MySQL specifically on a limited and paid basis.

Michael Monty Widenius is a Swedish programmer who created MySQL in 1975. MySQL started as a simple database system called UNIREG. But the company that Michael Monty Widenius worked for, namely TcX, felt that UNIREG was not suitable for their dynamic database.

Then mSQL (Mini Structured Query Language) version 1 was used, which at that time was developed by a programmer named David Hughes. Unfortunately, mSQL also has drawbacks. In the end, Michael Monty Widenius, TcX, and David Hughes decided to develop a new database management system. This system is a mix between UNIREG and mSQL. In 1995, MySQL was released as a relational database management system.

Initially, the ownership rights of MySQL were in the hands of a company from Sweden, namely TcX, but in 2008, Sun Microsystems, a company from the United States, managed to buy it.

Then Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems in 2010. Thus MySQL is owned by Oracle which is the largest technology company in the United States.

MySQL Strengths and Weaknesses

MySQL which is used by more than 6 million users informs that this database management system is quite popular in the world. This means that MySQL has advantages that make millions of users choose to use it to meet their needs.

MySQL advantages

Even though there are various other database management systems in the world, for example, Oracle, IBM DB2, and Microsoft Access. The following describes the advantages of MySQL as a relational database management system:

1. MySQL can integrate with various programming languages in making software.
2. MySQL is open source. This means that it can be developed by each user to support their needs, but the results of this development are not to be traded commercially.
3. In addition, MySQL can be used for free, so there is a lot of documentation and community related to this relational database management system.
4. The table structure in MySQL is flexible and easy to use. For example in processing alter table.
5. MySQL has various data variations such as date, char, text, integer, float, and others.
6. MySQL’s security features are guaranteed by the existence of various layers of security and access rights settings.
7. MySQL can be used on servers that have small specifications or RAM, for example, servers that have a capacity of 2 GB.
8. MySQL is multi-user. This means that at the same time, MySQL can be used by several users to perform a task. For example, certain projects can be done by several people at the same time.

MySQL Disadvantages

Even though MySQL has various advantages as described above, this relational database management system still has several loopholes to consider. The following are the disadvantages of MySQL that can be used as a user consideration in meeting their needs:

1. MySQL is not suitable for developing visual-based applications such as games or mobile devices.
2. MySQL difficulties to manage large databases.
3. MySQL technical support is less qualified because it is open source.

MySQL application

Before applying MySQL in the manufacture or development of software, MySQL needs to be installed in an existing operating system. For example in Windows and Linux operating systems.

How install MySQL on various operating systems requires different techniques and supporting applications, such as the XAMPP application for the Windows operating system and the LAMP application for the Linux operating system.

After installation, use a computer device that has the specifications as needed, MySQL can be applied in the manufacture of various products, such as the creation of dynamic websites, blogs, online stores, client and customer information for a company, guestbooks, and others.

Making these products requires patience and tenacity for every programmer, especially novice programmers who must know the basics. Many sites explain how to apply MySQL to create products according to your needs on the internet.

The most important thing in this application is the user who must understand their needs in using this relational database management system because it will involve computer specifications and hard disk storage capacity.

Learning MySQL and the programming language involved is fairly easy. Readers, especially novice programmers, only need to understand the basics that have been described in this article. Then do the practice independently with the help of other learning resources.