Program for database schematics

[Russinating]

Simple question: what's the best program for designing databases?

 

[akakjs]

I've used this before back when it was called happy fish (much better name imho).

It's not free however it has good functionality.

akakjs

 

[sparkey196]

There is no single best app for all db platforms although Visio is very good overall. Mysql workbench is a good enough for most MySQL databases and is free.

 

[gord]

I think we used eclipse at uni. Seemed fairly good, generated the SQL for you too from your schema.

 

[djkav]

Pen and paper is best for me, I often find I move things around when cheeky requests come in and thru normalisation

Then I use either MS SQL or MySQL for the final design

 

[MathewS]

I use DBdesigner

 

[Xelene]

Pen and paper is best for me

 

[rexehuk]

Pen + Paper for concepting

then

Visio for prototyping and design iteration.

Visio is very powerful if you take full advantage of the UML system etc.

If you don't have Visio, this should work for you - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/ee390821.aspx

 

[OliW]

Sounds a little odd but you should consider Django. It's a web programming framework written in Python so there's a bit more to learn than just jumping in with any old tool.

Why do I suggest it, well...

• Your "Models" are automatically converted into a database for you
• Django gives you a customisable admin screen for data entry (for almost no work)
• It has a shell which makes automating data entry from existing data *really* simple
• If you need a user-facing interface for the database (read: website), you're in the right place. Django is great for making websites (that's its main job)
• Python is possibly the simplest language to learn.
• Data is fairly portable. You can export to JSON or XML if you ever need to move it elsewhere.
• Oh and you'll (probably) never need to write a line of SQL again.

If you're using Ubuntu, it's just a package away. If you're stuck on Windows, http://www.instantdjango.com/ will get you going within five minutes. Then I suggest the Django Tutorial.