Re: Article doing a basic comparison of MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL

Though it was published some time ago, I only just came across this
article:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/oracle/115560

The comparison criteria is primative but PostgreSQL does well. I must say,
I was thrown by this comment:

"That web site includes a very good installation document. However, post
installation and getting started documentation is very limited. I hope
that that will change in time."

I find this peculiar, considering this:

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/static/tutorial-start.html

Now, perhaps the author's conclusion is just bogus but can anyone think of
better ways in which we could ease people into PostgreSQL?

Thanks,

Gavin

>I find this peculiar, considering this:
>
>http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/static/tutorial-start.html
>
>Now, perhaps the author's conclusion is just bogus but can anyone think of
>better ways in which we could ease people into PostgreSQL?
>
>
I think more than likely it just isn't obvious where the tutorial is.
I just went to the website, I clicked documentation, no immediate
mention of the tutorial. Then I click 8.0, where is the tutorial?

Oh... it is in the beginning of the 1300 pages of documentation.

Honestly, I didn't even know it was there. Of course I haven't had
need for it, but if I couldn't readily find it in 1 click (which is what
it should be) then a guy writing an article isn't going to either.

The tutorial/introduction should be a nice fat link in the center of
the page when you click documentation.

Right now when you click documentation you get this:

There is a wealth of PostgreSQL information available online. This
section contains current <http://www.postgresql.org/docs/manuals> and
archived <http://www.postgresql.org/docs/manuals/archive> manuals for
PostgreSQL users, as well as frequently asked questions
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faq>.

You can learn what's new <http://www.postgresql.org/docs/whatsnew> in
the latest release, and view a listing of books
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/books> written about PostgreSQL (some of
which are available in their entirety online). Technical documentation
<http://techdocs.postgresql.org> is also available in this section.

Which should probably be:

There is a wealth of PostgreSQL information available online. If you are
new to PostgreSQL we strongly suggest you check out
the latest <BOLD>Tutorial</BOLD>. This section contains current
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/manuals> and archived
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/manuals/archive> manuals for PostgreSQL
users, as well as frequently asked questions
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faq>.

You can learn what's new <http://www.postgresql.org/docs/whatsnew> in
the latest release, and view a listing of books
<http://www.postgresql.org/docs/books> written about PostgreSQL (some of
which are available in their entirety online). Technical documentation
<http://techdocs.postgresql.org> is also available in this section.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake

>Thanks,
>
>Gavin
>
>---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
>TIP 9: In versions below 8.0, the planner will ignore your desire to
> choose an index scan if your joining column's datatypes do not
> match
>
>

Joshua D. Drake wrote:

>
>> I find this peculiar, considering this:
>>
>> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/static/tutorial-start.html
>>
>> Now, perhaps the author's conclusion is just bogus but can anyone
>> think of
>> better ways in which we could ease people into PostgreSQL?
>>
>>
> I think more than likely it just isn't obvious where the tutorial is.
> I just went to the website, I clicked documentation, no immediate
> mention of the tutorial. Then I click 8.0, where is the tutorial?
>
> Oh... it is in the beginning of the 1300 pages of documentation.

I think that the documentation should be split (back out) into separate
books -- tutorial, reference, release notes, etc. It is too unwieldy as
it is. The release notes at least should be separate -- I was rather
pissed off when I discovered that what I had printed out included
changes for releases I had no interest in. If the documents have been
amalgamated to suit a publisher then I feel even more agrieved -- I
resent having to pay for padding and resent the waste of paper. With a
duplex printer the documentation fills two binders; printed simplex it
would be more like four!

Andrew Ford
ford-mason.co.uk

On Thu, Aug 11, 2005 at 05:51:14PM +0100, Andrew Ford wrote:
> Joshua D. Drake wrote:
>
> >
> >>I find this peculiar, considering this:
> >>
> >>http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.0/static/tutorial-start.html
> >>
> >>Now, perhaps the author's conclusion is just bogus but can anyone
> >>think of
> >>better ways in which we could ease people into PostgreSQL?
> >>
> >>
> >I think more than likely it just isn't obvious where the tutorial is.
> >I just went to the website, I clicked documentation, no immediate
> >mention of the tutorial. Then I click 8.0, where is the tutorial?
> >
> >Oh... it is in the beginning of the 1300 pages of documentation.
>
> I think that the documentation should be split (back out) into separate
> books -- tutorial, reference, release notes, etc. It is too unwieldy as
> it is. The release notes at least should be separate -- I was rather

I always have trouble finding info, just about anywhere on the site, and
the docs are no exception. I generally just use the SQL reference, but
there's still a lot of info that's not in that reference.

In this case, I think the real issue is a matter of website design. It
would be good if there was a prominent 'Getting started' link somewhere.
--
Jim C. Nasby, Sr. Engineering Consultant jnasby(at)pervasive(dot)com
Pervasive Software http://pervasive.com 512-569-9461