Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1

    Database without SQL?

    Are there other methods of implementing an online database without SQL support? I've been asked to develop a website that will require a sizeable database, and their particular webhosting service doesn't support SQL (the only db language i'm familiar with). If they choose not to change services, how would anyone be able to implement a db? Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    110
    As far as I know of, a database uses SQL, plain and simple. MySQL, SQLLite, PostgreSQL, MSSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, etc., all use SQL as a base langauge for the database to be update, edited, etc.

    Inquiry with them again to see if they have: 1)no access or to a database, or 2)no access to a database using SQL.

    If they have no way to use a database, which is probably what you and they are trying to elude to, you are looking at using flat-file based information tracking. It's not hard, it's jsut time consuming to look through(when the files get to be large enough), and gets pretty memory and resources intensive(a lot of problems came from early versions of bulletin board software that used text files for data storage).

    You might be able to find highly optimized solutions for free across the net, but if they have no access to a database, then you are looking at a flat file solution.

    Hope it helps

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    1,715
    database n : an organized body of related information

    So there are plenty of non-SQL solutions that would qualify as a 'database.' You will want to run php_info() on the system to see what other options you may have. SQLite and BDB files are decent options, or flat files if the 'tables' will be fairly small. A directory full of small files may work, too.
    Game Servers are the next hot market!
    Slim margins, heavy support, fickle customers, and moronic suppliers!
    Start your own today!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,097
    Flat files don't *have* to be slow. You can get fancy and build your own indexes and such, which isn't all that hard either if you understand the data structures involved. It's just a ton of work and very error prone and difficult to debug. Try and get at least SQLite.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    110
    Sorry, thought I read 'relational' when I posted

    Long days...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    France
    Posts
    44
    you can work with XML files.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    263
    I too suggest SQLite for an embedded RDMS solution, though it does use (a subset of) SQL - but then that's a plus for you, despite your original post.
    #include<cstdio>
    char*s="#include<cstdio>%cchar*s=%c%s%c;%cint main(){std::printf(s,10,34,s,34,10);}";
    int main(){std::printf(s,10,34,s,34,10);}

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Kuwait
    Posts
    5,104
    Most people confuse SQL with MSSQL -- are you sure you mean the language or the database server?

    Its very difficult to find a database server (system) that doesn't support some form of SQL.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sydney Australia
    Posts
    81
    I would bet that there is a confusion between product names, and query language names. Like the above poster said, SQL might be functioning as a ubiquitous term for MSSQL.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    1,284
    As error404 said you can use a flat-file type database,XML etc.

    One of the largest directories on the internet uses flat file databases for it's content.
    "Obsolesence is just a lack of imagination."

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Houston, Texas, USA
    Posts
    5
    Ask the client to switch hosts (to your's, of course...)

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    The Shadows
    Posts
    2,925
    How large of a database?

    Flat files would work
    Dan Sheppard ~ Freelance whatever

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •