Comments on: What’s The Best Mac Database Tool for MySQL? http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html I've been observing personal computing behavior for a long time, and now I have some things to say. Here are my two cents about computing, music, software, and related topics. Tue, 05 May 2026 12:53:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Tom Anderson http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-2659 Tom Anderson Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:35:29 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-2659 You can check one new tool - Valentina Studio http://www.valentina-db.com/en/valentina-studio-overview,14 Feb 2013 in the 5.0 version added support of MySQL, as well as, SQLite, PostgreSQL. It is FREE. Works on Mac, Win and Linux. Includes not only db management but powerfull reports that work again on 3 OS. You can check one new tool - Valentina Studio http://www.valentina-db.com/en/valentina-studio-overview,14 Feb 2013 in the 5.0 version added support of MySQL, as well as, SQLite, PostgreSQL. It is FREE. Works on Mac, Win and Linux. Includes not only db management but powerfull reports that work again on 3 OS.

]]> By: James http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-463 James Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:17:19 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-463 Thomas - I too have the same question. I love the functionality of databases, but I am handicapped by my need to work in excel and Access forms to get work done (and help others). Is there ANY front end solution - beyond setting up a web server? Help!!??! My Parallels install is getting WAY too much run time ;) James Thomas - I too have the same question. I love the functionality of databases, but I am handicapped by my need to work in excel and Access forms to get work done (and help others).

Is there ANY front end solution - beyond setting up a web server?

Help!!??! My Parallels install is getting WAY too much run time ;)

James

]]> By: Thomas http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-462 Thomas Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:07:07 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-462 Might be slightly OT, but I'm just getting started with SQL. All the tools mentioned above seem very much orientated to DB management. Could someone recommend an application to generate a form view GUI under OS X for a MySQL database (might also be Postgre or SQLite as the backend is not yet decided on)? Something aimed at the average DB user who might already have been exposed to Filemaker, Access, SAP, Navision and the like but definitely will not want to edit SQL statements. Thanks in advance for your help. Might be slightly OT, but I’m just getting started with SQL. All the tools mentioned above seem very much orientated to DB management. Could someone recommend an application to generate a form view GUI under OS X for a MySQL database (might also be Postgre or SQLite as the backend is not yet decided on)? Something aimed at the average DB user who might already have been exposed to Filemaker, Access, SAP, Navision and the like but definitely will not want to edit SQL statements. Thanks in advance for your help.

]]> By: david s http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-461 david s Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:36:50 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-461 i am very glad you posted this review, despite the unhelpful snarkiness from certain commenters. i'm new to MySQL, and had discovered CocoaMySQL on my own, but wanted a rundown of the other GUI tools out there. this did the trick. it's also need to see some devs of the software you reviewed give their feedback and even make changes to their software based on this review. i'm going to stick with CocoaMySQL for a quick alternative to Terminal, but will give Navicat a look as my skills develop. i am very glad you posted this review, despite the unhelpful snarkiness from certain commenters. i’m new to MySQL, and had discovered CocoaMySQL on my own, but wanted a rundown of the other GUI tools out there. this did the trick. it’s also need to see some devs of the software you reviewed give their feedback and even make changes to their software based on this review. i’m going to stick with CocoaMySQL for a quick alternative to Terminal, but will give Navicat a look as my skills develop.

]]> By: can.nandes.cat » Blog Archive » Anàlisi dels diferents clients mysql per Machintosh http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-460 can.nandes.cat » Blog Archive » Anàlisi dels diferents clients mysql per Machintosh Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:02:11 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-460 [...] Començant a treure-li suc al Macbook pro, haig de instal·lar un petit sistema de base de dades per poder tenir en local els petits projectes i entorns de proves abans de possar-los on-line. No entraré en detalls, però faré servir mysql, bàsicament per homogeneitat a on acabaran aquests projectes finalment en producció. Per altres sistemes operatius potser resulta relativament fàcil trobar un client de base de dades per poder gestionar o administrar la base de dades del sistema operatiu allà on estigui instal·lada.  Però en Mac, no tenia clar què o com… i aquí una web on fan un anàlisi ben detalla i exhaustiu  de les diferents alternatives que hi ha actualment… http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html, l’eina que recomanen l’havia provat fa temps per a Windows, hauré de fer-li una ullada. [...] [...] Començant a treure-li suc al Macbook pro, haig de instal·lar un petit sistema de base de dades per poder tenir en local els petits projectes i entorns de proves abans de possar-los on-line. No entraré en detalls, però faré servir mysql, bàsicament per homogeneitat a on acabaran aquests projectes finalment en producció. Per altres sistemes operatius potser resulta relativament fàcil trobar un client de base de dades per poder gestionar o administrar la base de dades del sistema operatiu allà on estigui instal·lada.  Però en Mac, no tenia clar què o com… i aquí una web on fan un anàlisi ben detalla i exhaustiu  de les diferents alternatives que hi ha actualment… http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html, l’eina que recomanen l’havia provat fa temps per a Windows, hauré de fer-li una ullada. [...]

]]> By: greg http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-459 greg Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:38:29 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-459 How about the MySQL GUI Tools Bundle? http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html How about the MySQL GUI Tools Bundle?

http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html

]]> By: Marc Logemann http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-458 Marc Logemann Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:02:17 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-458 Hmm, my lenghty review of this review was not saved. Seems the blog software is as bad as the review, especially about DBVis. Not getting MySQL to work in DBVis is like not knowing how to turn on a Mac. Hmm, my lenghty review of this review was not saved. Seems the blog software is as bad as the review, especially about DBVis. Not getting MySQL to work in DBVis is like not knowing how to turn on a Mac.

]]> By: Marc Logemann http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-457 Marc Logemann Thu, 26 Oct 2006 07:59:18 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-457 What a desaster review we have to read here. First of all, those who have problems to setup DBVis with a MySQL Driver certainly have some deeper problems with IT Skills in general. I mean can it be simpler than adding a MySQL Driver JAR to the classpath (visually of course in the driver setup) and selecting the automatically found driver class? I am using DBVis, the commercial one, for 3 major databases including DB2 and Oracle. The support for Oracle and DB2 is really good for a multi-vendor db tool. You have a tree navigation also for stored procs, views, and other db artifacts. Then you compare single vendor tools with multi vendor ones. This is also laughable because its a different league alltogether. Only supporting MySQL is quite easy and most likely the support for MySQL is better in single vendor tools, but DBVis is nearly catching them in terms of built in MySQL functions. BTW most of the MySQL only tools dont even support auto complete in the SQL console as far as i can remember. I have reviewed nearly all of the ones you reviewed too and all cocoa ones felt uglier to me in terms of user friendliness. Of course, i you are one of those MacOS fanatics who cant live with any other GUI toolkit then Cocoa, no Java app can be of any use for you. But DBVis is well layouted and easy to use. The good thing to know here is that you can search how long you want, on Mac you will never find the "best" MySQL GUI tool because the best lives on Windows and leaves everything else in the dust. Sometimes i even use Parallels to use it. See http://webyog.com/en/ What a desaster review we have to read here. First of all, those who have problems to setup DBVis with a MySQL Driver certainly have some deeper problems with IT Skills in general. I mean can it be simpler than adding a MySQL Driver JAR to the classpath (visually of course in the driver setup) and selecting the automatically found driver class?

I am using DBVis, the commercial one, for 3 major databases including DB2 and Oracle. The support for Oracle and DB2 is really good for a multi-vendor db tool. You have a tree navigation also for stored procs, views, and other db artifacts.

Then you compare single vendor tools with multi vendor ones. This is also laughable because its a different league alltogether. Only supporting MySQL is quite easy and most likely the support for MySQL is better in single vendor tools, but DBVis is nearly catching them in terms of built in MySQL functions. BTW most of the MySQL only tools dont even support auto complete in the SQL console as far as i can remember.

I have reviewed nearly all of the ones you reviewed too and all cocoa ones felt uglier to me in terms of user friendliness. Of course, i you are one of those MacOS fanatics who cant live with any other GUI toolkit then Cocoa, no Java app can be of any use for you. But DBVis is well layouted and easy to use.

The good thing to know here is that you can search how long you want, on Mac you will never find the “best” MySQL GUI tool because the best lives on Windows and leaves everything else in the dust. Sometimes i even use Parallels to use it. See http://webyog.com/en/

]]> By: Dan http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-456 Dan Thu, 26 Oct 2006 00:20:22 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-456 First, I would like to thank you for reviewing RazorSQL. We have just released a new version of RazorSQL available at http://www.razorsql.com/ that includes fixes and enhancements based on your review. 1. There is now an option to automatically escape apostrophes when editing data. 2. The edit tool now allows the generated SQL to be edited by the user. 3. For Mac users, only essential icons are shown in the toolbar by default. There is a preference available that shows all icons in the toolbar for those users that prefer icons to keyboard shortcuts or menus. 4. RazorSQL no longer assumes the user wants the application window to be completely maximized. RazorSQL now remembers the size of the window when it was last closed and uses that size the next time the application is started. 5. Unfortunately, since RazorSQL is a commercial application, we cannot legally distribute the MySQL database driver without paying a significant amount of money per year for a commercial MySQL license. We are working on a solution that will make installation of the driver more seamless for users. Thanks again for including RazorSQL in your review. First, I would like to thank you for reviewing RazorSQL. We have just released a new version of RazorSQL available at http://www.razorsql.com/ that includes fixes and enhancements based on your review.

1. There is now an option to automatically escape apostrophes when editing data.

2. The edit tool now allows the generated SQL to be edited by the user.

3. For Mac users, only essential icons are shown in the toolbar by default. There is a preference available that shows all icons in the toolbar for those users that prefer icons to keyboard shortcuts or menus.

4. RazorSQL no longer assumes the user wants the application window to be completely maximized. RazorSQL now remembers the size of the window when it was last closed and uses that size the next time the application is started.

5. Unfortunately, since RazorSQL is a commercial application, we cannot legally distribute the MySQL database driver without paying a significant amount of money per year for a commercial MySQL license. We are working on a solution that will make installation of the driver more seamless for users.

Thanks again for including RazorSQL in your review.

]]> By: Non Stop Mac http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-455 Non Stop Mac Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:47:26 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-455 <strong>What’s the best Mac database tool for MySQL?</strong> There are many options available for anyone on Mac OS X doing light database work. This article describes nine tools of the trade.... What’s the best Mac database tool for MySQL?

There are many options available for anyone on Mac OS X doing light database work. This article describes nine tools of the trade….

]]> By: George http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-454 George Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:14:34 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-454 Yeah, you did a disservice by omitting Navicat -- which is really the best of class in this software category. If you make money from your SQL web development then you are inherently a "professional database admin". This is one piece of software that is worth buying for $99 ($75 edu). Second best alternative is to stick with phpMyAdmin. Yeah, you did a disservice by omitting Navicat — which is really the best of class in this software category. If you make money from your SQL web development then you are inherently a “professional database admin”. This is one piece of software that is worth buying for $99 ($75 edu).

Second best alternative is to stick with phpMyAdmin.

]]> By: Thomas Mango http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-453 Thomas Mango Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:06:06 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-453 Thanks for checking out PGnJ. I was hoping I could just leave a few comments about my design decisions and implementation (I'm the developer, by the way). I was very happy to see that you called PGnJ a Cocoa application. Getting PGnJ to fit in with native Cocoa applications was one of things I worked very hard to achieve. PGnJ is actually a Java application (it originally started as Postgres only - the name means PG & J => Postgres & Java). On the other hand, the issue you raised about not being able to execute a query without going to the menu isn't really true. It's true there is no toolbar or visual cues as to how to execute queries, but the entire interface is keyboard navigable. You can even jump from section to section using only keyboard shortcuts. The reason I decided to forgo the toolbar and buttons was because my main goal was to make something extremely simple. To achieve this goal it was important that I left out all non-necessities. A toolbar is one such thing. My reasoning was that if you have to use the keyboard to write a query, why would you go to the mouse to execute it? Rather, you type the query and then simply hit cmd-e to execute it. To expand a bit more on the whole keyboard oriented approach, you can even do things like hit cmd-up or cmd-down to step through history right in the query editing text area. Anyway, I know that lots of people aren't keyboard oriented and I am probably leaving out a large audience by making these decisions but I guess I figured that there are a lot of pieces of software that someone could choose so why be like the rest? My vision was to create the most simply designed and easiest to use database management application that I could. I hope that features I have planned for future versions (currently under development) will meet your expectations and needs for database management. Thanks for checking out PGnJ. I was hoping I could just leave a few comments about my design decisions and implementation (I’m the developer, by the way).

I was very happy to see that you called PGnJ a Cocoa application. Getting PGnJ to fit in with native Cocoa applications was one of things I worked very hard to achieve. PGnJ is actually a Java application (it originally started as Postgres only - the name means PG & J => Postgres & Java).

On the other hand, the issue you raised about not being able to execute a query without going to the menu isn’t really true. It’s true there is no toolbar or visual cues as to how to execute queries, but the entire interface is keyboard navigable. You can even jump from section to section using only keyboard shortcuts. The reason I decided to forgo the toolbar and buttons was because my main goal was to make something extremely simple. To achieve this goal it was important that I left out all non-necessities. A toolbar is one such thing. My reasoning was that if you have to use the keyboard to write a query, why would you go to the mouse to execute it? Rather, you type the query and then simply hit cmd-e to execute it.

To expand a bit more on the whole keyboard oriented approach, you can even do things like hit cmd-up or cmd-down to step through history right in the query editing text area.

Anyway, I know that lots of people aren’t keyboard oriented and I am probably leaving out a large audience by making these decisions but I guess I figured that there are a lot of pieces of software that someone could choose so why be like the rest? My vision was to create the most simply designed and easiest to use database management application that I could. I hope that features I have planned for future versions (currently under development) will meet your expectations and needs for database management.

]]> By: Musings from Mars » What’s The Best Mac Database Tool for MySQL? « The Sharp-Eyed Blog http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-452 Musings from Mars » What’s The Best Mac Database Tool for MySQL? « The Sharp-Eyed Blog Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:05:09 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-452 [...] Musings from Mars » What’s The Best Mac Database Tool for MySQL? [...] [...] Musings from Mars » What’s The Best Mac Database Tool for MySQL? [...]

]]> By: Karim http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-451 Karim Mon, 23 Oct 2006 23:32:54 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-451 There is also MacSQL from Runtime Labs. They recently announced a beta of their latest version which is a Universal Binary. http://www.rtlabs.com/macsql/ There is also MacSQL from Runtime Labs. They recently announced a beta of their latest version which is a Universal Binary.

http://www.rtlabs.com/macsql/

]]> By: Leland http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-450 Leland Wed, 18 Oct 2006 23:18:33 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-450 Hi Eric, I think I downloaded Navicat once upon a night, but somehow it never got added to my "review queue." At $100, it seems pretty steep unless you're a professional database admin, but I'll definitely give it a try. Frankly, though, my review so far showed me that free software is the way to go in dealing with MySQL. As I tend to be a cheapskate when it comes to software, I wasn't sure whether or not I was missing something important by sticking to open source tools. Perhaps Navicat will change my mind... :-) Hi Eric,
I think I downloaded Navicat once upon a night, but somehow it never got added to my “review queue.” At $100, it seems pretty steep unless you’re a professional database admin, but I’ll definitely give it a try. Frankly, though, my review so far showed me that free software is the way to go in dealing with MySQL. As I tend to be a cheapskate when it comes to software, I wasn’t sure whether or not I was missing something important by sticking to open source tools. Perhaps Navicat will change my mind… :-)

]]> By: Eric http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-449 Eric Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:08:58 +0000 http://www.musingsfrommars.org/2006/10/the-best-mac-database-tool-for-mysql.html#comment-449 I'm surprised you didn't include Navicat as part of your review. I am a database developer (usually mySQL with REALbasic front-ends) and I use Navicat for all the database set-up and admin. Perhaps you can produce an update with your thoughts at a later time, I'd be interested in your opinion. I rate it highly, and I have never looked at another option as I have never needed to. I’m surprised you didn’t include Navicat as part of your review. I am a database developer (usually mySQL with REALbasic front-ends) and I use Navicat for all the database set-up and admin. Perhaps you can produce an update with your thoughts at a later time, I’d be interested in your opinion. I rate it highly, and I have never looked at another option as I have never needed to.

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