MySQL GUI Interface

When I started playing with MySQL, the first thing I did was to look for a GUI interface. Back then, I was a database analyst and I simply knew how to write SQL queries. GUI interface gave me the power to easily move around the database without actually having to know any MySQL commands.

Here are my few cents on the different MySQL GUI interface out there. I am not affiliated with any of the following products.

1. Navicat

I have research tons of MySQL GUI interface and basically I found that Navicat located at http://www.navicat.com is one of the best GUI interface there is. The interface is clean and it makes and feel that MySQL database is easy to use. The basic disadvantage: it is not free.

2. MySQL Administrator and Query Browser (from the MySQL website).

Although these tools have more power compared to Navicat, I find that they are not needed by newbies. MySQL Administrator gives a lot of information which I don't think you will need especially if you are just starting in MySQL and if you don't even know the basic MySQL commands.

The MySQL Query Browser as the name suggest is used for writing queries against the database. With Navicat, you have the power of the MySQL Administrator and Query Browser all in your hands.

3. PHPAdmin

This is a PHP-based MySQL Administrator which is okay for me but I rarely use it for the following reasons: installation is not straight forward and it is browser-based (I just don't feel like managing my database in a browser setting -- this is just my preference).

4. SQLyog, HeidiSQL, MySQL Maestro, and other Navicat-like wannabe...

Most of them are just the same. I haven't found anything that can surpass the comfortable level of Navicat.