From: Joao Pedrosa <joaopedrosa@...>
Date: 2005-01-20T21:16:54+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby and Databases (was: mysql-ruby installation)

Hi,

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:21:00 +0900, Mark <8904invalid@mynewsgate.net> wrote:
> Thanks Joao.
> I don't really want to modify MySQL because of Ruby. If my web
> application runs on a shared hosting and I don't have a so low level
> access to MySQL, I am kind of screwed. Is there any plan for updating
> ruby-mysql?

The MySQL change affects many languages and libraries, not only Ruby.
 
> Regarding postgreSQL access modules, the latest releases were in 2003.
> Is the ruby community really interested in DB access? How do you do guys?
> I wish ruby was like python from this viewpoint... batteries included.
> Access to databases is something so required, like string handling, it
> must be included or at least very very easily installable. (for
> postgres) 2003 and no other updates, jeez...

With just one tweaking I was able to compile/install the postgres
driver on Ruby 1.9 from the CVS and access PostgreSQL 8.0 on another
computer.

> So, this is also my answer to the post "Best ways to accelerate Ruby's
> popularity": make access to databases damn easy, at least for the main
> one: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird, SQLite, Oracle, Ms SQL Server,
> etc...etc...

I'm creating my own interface to MySQL, PostgreSQL, Firebird and
SQLite. So I'm able to connect to these four reasonably well. Also, I
can connect to Firebird using the ODBC driver on Windows and on Linux,
so any database with a supported ODBC driver can be accessed just
fine, I suppose.

> I am very discouraged. The python book is tempting me. :-(((

At least I don't consider Python any better in this regard. I like the
Ruby drivers very much.

> No flame, troll or whatsoever intended.
> Thanks for any comment.

No problem. It's just that most Ruby users don't care about binary
packages, so you end up having to learn how to tweak the setup and
install scripts when the need comes, so the library can get installed
successfully. On Windows, it's good to have some compiler handy. MinGW
and the Microsoft compiler are available in free downloads. See:
http://www.rubygarden.org/ruby?WindowsCompiler

> Mark
> 
> Inviato da www.mynewsgate.net

Cheers,
Joao