Actian Community Forums - Blogs - ekar http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/ en Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:20:18 GMT vBulletin 60 http://community.actian.com/forum/ingres4/misc/rss.jpg Actian Community Forums - Blogs - ekar http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/ Useful or not? http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/74-useful-not.html Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:49:30 GMT I have shared some very simple script I wrote and using for a while. Personally, I think every Ingres user could use it. Especially a new users with...
I have shared some very simple script I wrote and using for a while. Personally, I think every Ingres user could use it. Especially a new users with some experience with other databases. It is just another Terminal Monitor with few tricks. Once session is started, user can list existing user databases, create or delete database, connect to a database and run SQL statements, disconnect and connect to another database and more. I am sure a few more useful things can be added to make it even better. Some better error handling also comes to mind.
Detailed description and script itself can be copied from here:
Another_terminal_monitor
Sometimes, little changes can make a difference. Would love to hear your ideas on this one and maybe on some other little tiny things which can be done to improve usability and overall Ingres experience.

UPDATED (10/8/10): Version 3 is created and posted at
Another Terminal Monitor v3

Eugene.


You can view some other little things I shared on my page, at: http://community.ingres.com/wiki/User:Ekar


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]]> ekar 42275 http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/74-useful-not.html Open Source Star Wars - part I http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/73-open-source-star-wars-part-i.html Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:50:28 GMT There is plenty of news from the Google lately. First, they get into Travel business (acquires ITA), than they drop Google Wave. They have many other... There is plenty of news from the Google lately. First, they get into Travel business (acquires ITA), than they drop Google Wave. They have many other things going on behind the close doors (I am sure you know these, like Google OS, etc). And now this - Oracle filed a lawsuit against Google . And center of this is use of Open Source software, the java (in Android platform) to be exact. I am sure you know by now all details on what has been declared and what has been said. To me, it seems that Oracle is going after the Open Source. And to me, main question is - can they damage Open Source in general? If they win, can they re-direct Open Source movement? For some time Oracle tried to convince software world that they can tolerate Open Source, but I think this action is exposing their face and their feel about Open Source.
One thing is for sure - it will be long process and much more will come out in light of this lawsuit. How this will affect Open Source - has to be seen.
Will it affect Ingres? I hope not. At least for some time it should not affect Ingres in any way. Moreover, I think it will benefit Ingres as all eyes will be on these two (Google and Oracle) and Ingres has a good chance to almost-quietly continue gain speed with VectorWise and its growing user base. Also, such action might hurt some feelings towards Oracle and Ingres should be prepared to see much more users taking another look at Ingres. And Ingres should be ready! Ingres should prepare some PR strategy for such users and take advantage of possible side affect of Oracle's action. I hope Ingres will recognize this moment!

]]> ekar 42275 http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/73-open-source-star-wars-part-i.html <![CDATA[Director's Mistakes]]> http://community.actian.com/forum/blogs/ekar/72-directors-mistakes.html Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:43:07 GMT Why the Ingres Director is failing, even before it is released to the community? Even before it will take some final shape or form? Just to make it...
Why the Ingres Director is failing, even before it is released to the community? Even before it will take some final shape or form?
Just to make it clear - I wish Ingres Director and it's other 2 related projects will succeed and will make not only Ingres better, but attract new users and make life of the “Joe the DBA” much easier.
I will be first to praise new outstanding Ingres utility.
From what I have seen, Ingres Director is not one of these yet. Reasons? I can think of few.
Historically, Ingres had superb functionality and poor front end. It took about a decade to implement idea to have its own management (visual) tools. And it was done by a team of 4 in a hurry (about 2 years, or is it just seems to be that fast?). And only for Windows. Great job, VDBA and other tools work today, have great functionality and handy tools for everybody – developers, DBA’s, System Administrators.
What is the problem – it should have been done faster, better and with more resources dedicated to such important project. VDBA is still the face of the Ingres database today.
Relation to the current project? Same mistake – this project should be leading project for the Dev team, but instead it is a community project with very few (seems like Roger is one) leads.
Result so far? Functionality is not set properly. Instead of creating clean, easy usable application, seems like everything we can think of, we put together.
There is no clear line which tasks this tool will help to accomplish. It should target DBA’s and developers and as such, it should provide easy accessible screens to check:
- Ingres processes health,
- data health,
- environment health
- system health
and to provide quick access to:
- data
- events
- user management
- daily tasks
- monitoring and reporting

Front end looks so outdated! Sometimes even useless tools with great GUI will attract more users. First (in Roger’s ppt) screen shots and second version for Ingres Director looks bad. Development team need to start pay more attention to the new GUI development. And name itself (Ingres Director) is somewhat questionable. In my option, simplicity is the key – Ingres DBA Console should be enough.
See existing screen shots to compare. I have put simple screen together just to provide an idea of what I mean. In this example, first task each DBA is performing every morning – checking status of system – check processes, disk usage, current messages (error messages), connections, etc. Than works with data, reports, etc. Lastly, I am not sure Documentation even should be here – there is existing link from Ingres menu and that should be enough, no reason to multiply access.
In my world, such project should be work of the professional GUI development team with strong knowledge of Ingres, Database Administration and community needs. Money spent on Orchestram would be better spend on such development.


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