2
votes
2answers
353 views

Why OTServs have an item cloning problem if the server crashes? [closed]

OTServs are open source MMORPGs with a huge community. Mostly all of them have a serious problem: if the server crashes, people can clone items. This is a dirty trick that can be executed because the ...
57
votes
13answers
4k views

Why use a database instead of just saving your data to disk?

Instead of a database I just serialize my data to JSON, saving and loading it to disk when necessary. All the data management is made on the program itself, which is faster AND easier than using SQL ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views

Moving sql database [closed]

I need to move the sql database to a new server without changing the app that uses that database, how can i do this easily without affecting the users ?
1
vote
5answers
345 views

Is it Considered Good SQL practice to use GUID to link multiple tables to same Id field?

I want to link several tables to a many-to-many(m2m) table. One table would be called location and this table would always be on one side of the m2m table. But I will have a list of several tables ...
0
votes
1answer
361 views

How to check for null in most sql's - “column is null” or “column = null” [closed]

I'm not sure of the right syntax to use. Is it select * from tlb where flag is NULL or select * from tlb where flag = NULL Is the answer the same for oracle, sqlserver and Postgres?
2
votes
2answers
147 views

Better way to search for text in two columns

Here is the scenario. I am making a custom blogging software for my site. I am implementing a search feature. It's not very sophisticated - basically it just takes the search phrase entered and runs ...
4
votes
3answers
306 views

Rule of thumb for field sizes

What VARCHAR sizes should be used for first and last names, phone numbers (preferably international), email adresses, urls, dictionary words and file names? Edit: Zapped the introductory phrase to ...
2
votes
7answers
1k views

What is the best approach for database design with lots of columns?

I am writing a query based financial application. It lets the user to write complicated equations (much like WHERE part of an SQL query) and find companies matching those criteria. For the above, I ...
5
votes
2answers
154 views

Storing stop/start points in a database

Let's say I am storing start and stop points per user into a database table. For example... let's say in a chat system, a user only needs to see lines 24-293, and 500-512. (Let's say he logged off ...
3
votes
3answers
575 views

Why put SQL statement in a variable before using mysql_query()?

I'm been working with PHP on and off for a bit now, and I've seen plenty of code both ways: $sql = "SELECT …"; mysql_query($sql); vs mysql_query("SELECT…"); Is there a reason for separating the ...
0
votes
1answer
118 views

Which EXPLAIN SELECT is better — the one in PostgreSQL or the one in MySQL? [closed]

Or are the two basically the same when it comes to figuring out how to build the right indexes?
6
votes
9answers
2k views

Foreign key restrictions -> yes or no?

I would like to hear some”real life experience” suggestions if foreign key restrictions are good or bad thing to enforce in DB. I would kindly ask students/beginners to refrain from jumping and ...
12
votes
2answers
860 views

Best way to organize SQL queries stored in your code ? (or should you?)

I am sure I am not the only one who gets frustrated when they see a page of code littered with SQL queries. The ActiveRecord and other ORM patterns help mitigate a good amount of SQL used in a ...