Does an open-source Access killer exist?

October 2, 2005 7:22 AM

What are my options in slick, open-source database frontends?

I've been programming low-level stuff - embedded systems in assorted assembly languages, device drivers, that sort of thing - for twenty years, and only fairly recently started messing about with databases.

I've been quite impressed with how easy it is to whip up something useful with M$ Access.

Things I like about Access are the forms generator (especially the decent and flexible variety of widgets available for building forms), the report generator, query-by-example, that nifty way you can build a complicated and well-normalized database and make it understandable just by drawing lines and arrows between boxes, the comprehensive documentation, and the ability to use scripting to tinker with bits that don't quite work the way I want. If it weren't for the flaky Jet backend, the hideous M$ licencing model, the fact that the scripting language is VB and the general lack of geek cred, I'd happily stick with Access.

Is there something open-source and approximately as slick that I can just bolt onto the front of, say, PostgreSQL? Preferably with a choice of scripting language? I'm partial to Lua, but I'll put up with Python or Ruby.

posted by flabdablet to computers & internet (8 comments total)

How about this list?
posted by sandking at 8:01 AM on October 2, 2005

I'm not sure exactly what the depth is you're looking for... if you just need to be able to do some manipulations, or if you want to develop "applications"...

For just a nice frontend to MySQL - I suggest phpMyAdmin...

For something more in depth than that, your best bet is going to be to use MySQL (vastly more popular than PostGres so there's just more open source stuff developed for it) and one of the many PHP frontends out there...
posted by twiggy at 8:36 AM on October 2, 2005

Developing interesting little (and perhaps not-so-little) database apps, with nice forms and reports and a bulletproof database engine underneath, is what I'm after. PostgreSQL has that nice solid diecast alloy feel - MySQL strikes me as a little flimsy.

PHP is still on my to-learn list. Do any of the PHP frontends of which you speak let you develop apps the way you can with Access, or do you just end up having to write lots of PHP code to make a web app that looks a bit like an Access app? Which PHP frontends have you played with, and which are the good ones?

Thing is, if I want to write code for fun, I'll be doing that in 6502 assembler on my Apple II. As far as databases go, I'm more interested in quick, mostly-non-coding ways to get interesting ideas turned into moderately robust working apps quickly. Access does that exceedingly well, but I'd like to be able to give away the stuff I make without worrying about imposing M$ licencing for the underlying bits and pieces on my victims the recipients.

If I can find a way to do this with all open-source bits and pieces, I could just make live Puppy Linux discs with my apps included, and that would make me happy.

I don't mind doing a fairly insane amount of work getting the backend and the frontend talking happily to each other, because I figure I'll only have to do that once.
posted by flabdablet at 9:03 AM on October 2, 2005

I don't know of a whole lot out there that's as "simple" as access and also open source.

In the "not so expensive, but closed source" arena - have you heard of Filemaker Pro?

Otherwise, you might try this google search and peruse some options...

I'm a coder, myself, so I've only used phpMyAdmin which is really nice for quick/simple database access/modification... but it won't create happy buttons etc like MS Access will.
posted by twiggy at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2005

I think the problem here is that this is not the type of thing that Open Source / Free Software tends to do well. If you're looking for a workhorse daemon with no real user interface or a command-line user interface, then you have nearly unlimited options. But as soon as you cross to the other side of the spectrum where "usability" and "intuitive, simple interface" are the most important features, then the well dries up.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of examples of open source software that are user friendly and intuitive. But most of it tends not to be, and in the specific case of a database front-end like Access, I'm not aware of anything particularly good. phpMyAdmin is a fantastic tool for people that know MySQL already or are trying to learn MySQL or just want to manage someone else's database that some other application has created. But if you want to design the schema yourself it's going to be the equivalent of sitting someone down in the cockpit of a 747, in front of thousands of little knobs and dials. It's great if you know how to fly a 747, and you wouldn't want to actually fly a 747 with anything less. But if all you've ever flown is a cessna you're going to be at a loss.

You might want to do some searches on freshmeat.net if you haven't already. If it's Free Software / Open Source, it's probably listed there.
posted by Rhomboid at 9:37 PM on October 2, 2005

While not an Access replacement, Ruby on Rails is pretty impressive in how quickly it'll create a DB front end and adding constraints is almost as quick.
posted by phearlez at 4:20 PM on October 3, 2005

My google-fu must be improving; just found Rekall, which looks pretty much exactly like what I'm looking for. Anybody used it?
posted by flabdablet at 4:52 PM on October 3, 2005

Check this out:

http://ondras.praha12.net/sql/demo/
posted by meta87 at 12:43 AM on October 4, 2005