Re: [tlug] wiki

[Walter Hansen <gandalf@example.com>]

Mark Makdad wrote:
> I see where you're coming from.  But on a list of  Linux SAs, general 
> computer people, and IT recruiters, I'm sure Josh can find /someone/ to 
> help out ;).
>
> This brings up a point I have been thinking about recently.  I used to 
> use flat text files for everything, before I discovered databases (er, 
> before the open source databases really caught up with commercially 
> available ones), and I'd have to say that even for the smallest task, 
> database-ing my data has generally made my life easier and my filesystem 
> cleaner.
>
> What does TLUG think?  For a web scripter like myself, is there ever a 
> time where I would be better off with a text file??
>
> Mark

When race conditions don't exist. When you're storing file data. <-- 
there are arguments both ways but files are easier to keep track of, 
backup and restore out of a database. Log files are great also. Easier 
to read than database logs, but if you write a reader then it's not an 
issue. Same goes for configuration files. Lots easier as a flat file.

However take DBs out of the mix and it gets real complex and troublesome 
real quick. Used to do it that way. PITA.