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What happened to the popularity of database software?

madoka

madoka

Diamond Member
IIRC, the triumvirate of office software was a word processor, database, and spreadsheet. But simple database software seems to have fallen off the map. What happened to them?

Also, I just want to keep track of my various collections. What's a simple database program I can use?
 
Standard version of MS office includes word processor, spreadsheet and presentation (not database). Access database is only included in Pro version.

If you are talking about simple databases with GUI designer, there aren't many choices. Access & Filemaker come to mind. And if you are asking why Access's popularity is falling, I think it's because its weak & limited web functionality (web database can only be published to MS Sharepoint Server now, which is a complex product and very expensive investment) and there are a lot of alternatives available.

Most databases have been moved to web as frontend and SQL or NoSQL as backend.
 
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It's been a while but I remember using FileMaker (MS-DOS) since the early 80s, then a GUI version later on a Macintosh. A PC version on the early '90s. Used a little bit of MS SQL early '90s too.
 
All of the cool kids now build themselves web front ends for their MariaDB databases hosted in AWS.

It better have a slick looking mobile app as well, or you're never going to be able to get VC funding if you decide to turn your new SaaS application into a startup company.
 
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ultimatebob said:
Nah... even LAMP is dated nowadays. All of the urban hipsters are switching from MySQL to MariaDB, and also seem to be switching from Apache and PHP to Nginx and Ruby.

LNMR doesn't have the same ring to it, though 🙂
Click to expand...


Switching, sure, but LAMP still has huge installed base.
 
GagHalfrunt said:
So I'm not cool anymore if I still use MySQL?
Click to expand...

Using MySQL hasn't been cool since Oracle bought them.

I can't really explain why Nginx is becoming popular, though. Some say that it's faster and scales better, but I haven't been able to see a difference in the loads that my sites carry.
 
ultimatebob said:
Nah... even LAMP is dated nowadays. All of the urban hipsters are switching from MySQL to MariaDB, and also seem to be switching from Apache and PHP to Nginx and Ruby.
Click to expand...

nah MEAN stack is where it's at. at least that's what the kiddies tell me.

i still just use mysql + apache + tomcat + java. i ain't rewriting my stuff in the new fad, it'll just be out of date by the time i finish.
 
brianmanahan said:
nah MEAN stack is where it's at. at least that's what the kiddies tell me.

i still just use mysql + apache + tomcat + java. i ain't rewriting my stuff in the new fad, it'll just be out of date by the time i finish.
Click to expand...

I actually like MariaDB, though. It's almost completely compatible with MySQL in terms of syntax and table structure, so switching is pretty easy.
 
PostgreSQL is really the best Swiss Army knife, if you ask me. But the OP was asking about desktop apps...
 
slugg said:
PostgreSQL is really the best Swiss Army knife, if you ask me. But the OP was asking about desktop apps...
Click to expand...

Yeah, but nobody really does desktop apps with a local database backend anymore. Everybody does web/mobile apps instead.

I mean, nobody is stopping you from making a new Access database in 2017... but you would probably be crazy to so.
 
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The 1990's happened. Their "popularity" only existed because they took a Novelty product, Electronic Personal Computers, and turned them into a revolutionary Tool.
 
Growing up in the 80s, database software was used to keep track of recipes, baseball cards, book collections, etc. I don't understand why simple software for that purpose seems almost nonexistent now.

Microsoft Access is no longer Mac compatible and it seems it has one foot in the grave.

Don't people still have a need for a simple database program? I'd like to keep track of my comics, trading cards, Lego sets, and guns. Something that will let me sort by year, keywords, condition, etc. I keep buying duplicates of things I already own and a database seems appropriate to help with that problem.
 
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