MySQL is the most popular SQL database in the open source community and is used almost universally by web sites running on open source systems. As powerful and flexible as it is lightweight and efficient, MySQL packs a large feature set into a very small and fast engine that now runs on more than 500,000 servers. This renowned online manual that has supported MySQL administrators and database developers for years is now available in paperback format. This book is an exact reproduction of the MySQL Reference Manual from the MySQL development team's Web site, minus some non-technical appendices. This version covers MySQL 4.0.
Many sophisticated topics appear in this comprehensive manual, ranging from the hitches you may run into when first installing MySQL to internals that will help you tune your queries. MySQL Reference Manual contains all the comprehensive reference material one would expect for building the product, running administrative utilities, and using various API as well as MySQL's rich version of SQL. In addition, you can turn a page and find such unexpected riches as:
A thorough comparison of MySQL with SQL standards and other databases
A discussion of privileges and suggested uses of privileges to enhance security
Directions for replicating a database and for running several MySQL servers on a single system
Directions for initializing a database from a flat file
Guidelines for estimating the performance of different queries
A far-reaching discussion of optimization, with reference to the implementation of MySQL
Investigations of the differences between data types and the pros and cons of each type of number, string, or timestamp
An extended inquiry into the effects of using delayed inserts
A candid explanation of why various errors occur and how to recover from them
Tips for weighted, full-text searches
Detailed descriptions of the features, strengths, and weaknesses of available table formats
A guide to adding new functions to MySQL
No serious MySQL user should be without this book.
Chapter 1 General Information
About This Manual
What Is MySQL?
What Is MySQL AB?
MySQL Support and Licensing
MySQL 4.0 in a Nutshell
MySQL Information Sources
How Standards-Compatible Is MySQL?
MySQL and the Future (the TODO)
How MySQL Compares to Other Databases
Chapter 2 MySQL Installation
Quick Standard Installation of MySQL
General Installation Issues
Installing a MySQL Source Distribution
Post-Installation Setup and Testing
Upgrading/Downgrading MySQL
Operating System–Specific Notes
Perl Installation Comments
Chapter 3 Tutorial Introduction
Connecting to and Disconnecting from the Server
Entering Queries
Creating and Using a Database
Getting Information About Databases and Tables
Examples of Common Queries
Using mysql in Batch Mode
Queries from Twin Project
Using MySQL with Apache
Chapter 4 Database Administration
Configuring MySQL
General Security Issues and the MySQL Access Privilege System
David Axmark, Co-founder: David Axmark is one of the founders of MySQL and worked with the product well before it had a name. He has worked as a consultant and software developer for nearly 20 years. Interested in free software since the early '80s, David has been committed to developing a successful business model through open source software.
Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. Jeffrey Holcomb was the production editor for MySQL Reference Manual. Audrey Doyle was the copyeditor. Jane Ellin provided quality assurance. Phil Dangler and David Chu provided production assistance. Michael "Monty" Widenius, David Axmark, and MySQL AB wrote the index.
Edie Freedman designed the cover of this book, with thanks to Hanna Dyer and Ellie Volckhausen. The cover image is a public domain engraving from The Clip Art Book, published in 1990 by Crescent Books. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1, using Adobe's Formata and Helvetica fonts.
David Futato designed the interior layout. The print version of this book was created by translating the DocBook XML markup of its source files into a set of gtroff macros using a filter developed at O'Reilly & Associates by Norman Walsh. Steve Talbott designed and wrote the underlying macro set on the basis of the GNU troff --gs macros; Lenny Muellner adapted them to XML and implemented the book design. The GNU groff text formatter version 1.11.1 was used to generate PostScript output. The text and heading fonts are Times and Helvetica; the code font is Courier.
