The management of a database is most of the time, just a routine task. The responsible has to monitor most of the time the database, its transactions, the backups and the server capacity. Sometimes one needs to correct something or just look up a query and ... There are many exceptional scenarios. My focus in this small report is on the beginning and the end of the life cycle of a database: Designing the tables (and testing it) as well as migrating a database (to a new release for example).
Coming from the web design/development the tools I want to use should fulfill some requirements:
- Support MySQL and SQL (at least)
- Support remote connections (ideally with SSH)
- Run on Mac OS X
- Cost nothing (at least if I do not use the tool on a regular basis)
On the basis of this selection criteria I have found two free tools. One of the do I use now on a regular basis, the other one is not that great (yet) and I do not use it any more.
Sequel Pro
Sequel Pro is currently available in version 0.9.3, this means the software is marked as "beta". Never the less this tool looks promising to me and will be soon available in a first stable release.
The interface looks nicely clean, not too much buttons and everything there where you expect it to be. The functions are rich as well.
The only thing I was disappointed about, was the SSH-Connectivity. First in the default mask to enter a connection is the SSH-Option not visible, you have to go via "Preferences > Bookmarks". Then I have entered all information for my connection via SSH and the database but I did not work. The sockets did not work either, although they are marked as "optional", the software needs a socket to connect.
According to my relatively long list of not properly working functions, I have searched for an alternative and have found a well proofed product.
Navicat 8 Lite For MySQL
As you can already see on the version number, Navicat 8 Lite For MySQL is not in the Beta-phase anymore. You can as well have a full version, but you have to buy it. The lite version is available here. Versions for Windows and Linux are available under the same link as well.
Well here the SSH-Connection works fine and I have also some other options, e.g. to tunnel through SSL or a HTTP connection.
For all the tables you have an editing windows, like the one in the screenshot and you can use, for large text (or blob) fields the integrated text editor. Otherwise you can just click into the column - row tuple you want to edit and write the new content into your table.
It is also possible to have multiple connections open at the same time and with this copy and paste some parts of tables across multiple servers as well.
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