High Performance MySQL, 3rd Edition

Chapter 16. Tools for MySQL Users

The MySQL server distribution doesn’t include tools for many common tasks, such as monitoring the server or comparing data between servers. Fortunately, Oracle’s commercial offerings extend these tools, and MySQL’s active open source community and third-party companies also provide a wide variety of tools, reducing the need to roll your own.

Interface Tools

Interface tools help you run queries, create tables and users, and perform other routine tasks. This section gives a brief description of some of the most popular tools for these purposes. You can generally do all or most of the jobs they’re used for with SQL queries or commands—the tools we discuss here just add convenience, help you avoid mistakes, and speed up your work:

MySQL Workbench

MySQL Workbench is an all-in-one tool for tasks such as managing your server, writing queries, developing stored procedures, and working with schema diagrams. It features a plugin interface that lets you write your own tools and integrate them into the workbench, and there are Python scripts and libraries that use this plugin interface. MySQL Workbench is available in both community and commercial editions, with the commercial editions adding in some more advanced features. The free version is more than adequate for most needs, though. You can learn more at http://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/.

SQLyog

SQLyog is one of the most popular visual tools for MySQL, with many nice features. It’s in the same class as ...