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Despite their repeated pleadings, I just can't afford to let my colleagues learn SQL, Tim. I have to take every opportunity to hide the knowledge from them. I've found that developing simple, easy-to-use front-ends to complex internal systems here in the library is a good way to keep them dumb and happy. These library school loans are not going to pay off themselves, so I figure as long as I can shroud the command-line utopia from their sight, I'll be relatively safe. Once they start picking up on the joy of SQL -- and I pray that day never comes -- I will be out on the street. Alex Tim Spalding wrote: > That reminds me of a better idea. Let's keep a real understanding of > computers from "less-techy colleagues" at the library. That way no > messy learning or understanding will take place, and we'll always be > needed. > > Then we could start wearing white colors... > > T > > On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM, Alex Dolski <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> That reminds me of an idea for a photo sharing website I had, tentatively >> called LeftOutrJoinr. It would be like Flickr, but instead of pictures >> everywhere, visitors would be given a command line into which they would be >> able to enter their own SQL queries to call up photos to appear on the page >> via AJAX. I see it becoming quite popular among 3-5 people. >> >> Alex >> >> >> Tim Spalding wrote: >>> I'd consider teaching them how to use SQL directly. >>> >>> I've done it at LibraryThing. I take employees from the simplest >>> SELECTs all the way to a people-who-have-X-also-have-Y self-join in >>> one long hands-on lesson. It doubles as a sort of test, and I've even >>> used it in hiring. LibraryThing's two full-time librarians got there >>> with flying colors; I've had programmers who stumbled. (Not >>> surprisingly they didn't work out.) Once someone understands SQL >>> itself, you can throw a helper, like PMA, at them too. >>> >>> I think there's a real opportunity for empowerment here. Teach a man >>> to SELECT and he'll never have to, um, fish again. >>> >>> Tim >>> >>> On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 9:58 AM, Tim McGeary <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>>> I use Webmin. http://www.webmin.com/ >>>> It gives me a GUI for all of my vital sysadmin needs that I can't >>>> remember >>>> how to do at the shell. >>>> >>>> It has a MySQL GUI interface that works very well. And you can setup >>>> user >>>> accounts to have access to certain parts of Webmin, like just MySQL. >>>> >>>> Easy RPM install, and inside Webmin is an app to upgrade itself. Can >>>> also >>>> install Perl modules, edit your php.ini file, etc. >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> Tim >>>> >>>> Tim McGeary >>>> Senior Systems Specialist >>>> Lehigh University >>>> 610-758-4998 >>>> [log in to unmask] >>>> Google Talk: timmcgeary >>>> Yahoo IM: timmcgeary >>>> >>>> Ken Irwin wrote: >>>>> Hi folks, >>>>> >>>>> I have some straightforward MySQL data tables that I would like to be >>>>> editable by some of my less-techy colleagues. I tend to think of >>>>> phpMyAdmin >>>>> as a perfectly serviceable and reasonably interface for updating >>>>> database >>>>> tables, but I'm told that it's kind of intimidating to the uninitiated. >>>>> >>>>> Are there alternatives that are meant for non-admin-types? I'd want >>>>> something with read/write permissions, but that could be targeted at >>>>> just a >>>>> few tables, wouldn't have any of the more potent tools (drop, empty, >>>>> etc.). >>>>> In the ideal world, I might like something that would prevent users from >>>>> doing things like accidentally changing primary key data and things like >>>>> that. >>>>> >>>>> I've thought about writing something, but I suspect that would be >>>>> reinventing the wheel. Any ideas? >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> Ken >>>>> >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Alex A. Dolski >> Web & Digitization Application Developer >> Lied Library, University of Nevada, Las Vegas >> 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 457041 >> Las Vegas, NV 89154-7041 >> (702) 895-2225 (phone) / (702) 895-2280 (fax) >> > > > -- Alex A. Dolski Web & Digitization Application Developer Lied Library, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 457041 Las Vegas, NV 89154-7041 (702) 895-2225 (phone) / (702) 895-2280 (fax)