MySQL Programming
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What is MySQL?
MySQL is an open-source RDMBS using SQL as the query language and supporting multiple threads and users, available on all of the common platforms. MySQL was developed by MySQL AB in Sweden, which also maintains it. It is the "M" in the LAMP stack that defines widely-used system components for web applications.
The first version of MySQL appeared in May, 1995. As of August, 2007, the current version is 5.0. Proprietary versions are licensed to those not willing to be bound by the terms of the general public license.
MySQL's server program and libraries are written mainly in C/C++. Specific API's permit the use of all the principal programming languages. Additionally, through MyODBC (MySQL's ODBC interface) ASP, ColdFusion and other ODBC-supported languages become available.
Many web applications, particularly large ones, including complex content-management systems, have been designed using the "LAMP stack." In this configuration, the "M" is for MySQL. (The "L" refers to Linux OS (but can also have an "M" for Mac, or "W" for Windows); the "A" is Apache; and the "P" is PHP (but may also be Perl or Python).)
MySQL ships with a command-line tool and two GUI tools: MySQL Administrator and MySQL Query Browser. MySQL 5.0 comes in a "Community Server" edition and an "Enterprise Server" edition. An administration interface in PHP called phpMyAdmin is available for free from a third party.
