Android Room vs MySQL WorkBench

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Android Room

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Android Room vs MySQL WorkBench: What are the differences?

Introduction:

In this markdown, we will discuss the key differences between Android Room and MySQL Workbench. These two are commonly used database tools, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features. Below, we highlight six key differences between them.

  1. Integration with Programming Language: Android Room is specifically designed for Android app development and integrates seamlessly with Java or Kotlin programming languages. On the other hand, MySQL Workbench is a desktop client tool primarily used for managing and designing databases using SQL.

  2. Declarative Syntax: Android Room utilizes a declarative syntax which allows developers to define the structure of the database using annotations. This simplifies the code and reduces the need to write complex SQL statements. In contrast, MySQL Workbench requires developers to write explicit SQL statements for creating and modifying database tables and schema.

  3. Compatibility: Android Room is specifically built for Android app development and is compatible with SQLite, a lightweight and embedded database that comes bundled with Android. On the contrary, MySQL Workbench is designed to work with MySQL, a full-fledged relational database management system that can be used across different platforms.

  4. Graphical User Interface (GUI): MySQL Workbench provides a GUI interface that allows users to visually design database tables, create relationships, and perform various database management tasks. Android Room, being an Android development tool, does not provide a GUI interface but offers APIs and annotations to interact with the database programmatically.

  5. Data Synchronization: Android Room offers built-in support for local data synchronization with the server using technologies like Firebase Realtime Database or RESTful APIs. This makes it easier to sync data between offline and online modes in Android apps. MySQL Workbench doesn't provide direct data synchronization capabilities as it primarily focuses on database design and administration.

  6. Platform Dependency: Android Room is platform-dependent and can only be used for Android app development. This means it cannot be used for other platforms like web or desktop applications. On the other hand, MySQL Workbench is platform-independent and can be used on various operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it suitable for different software development projects.

In Summary, Android Room is a database tool specifically built for Android app development, whereas MySQL Workbench is a versatile tool used for managing databases across different platforms, providing a GUI interface and supporting advanced SQL functionalities.

Advice on Android Room and MySQL WorkBench

I am looking to build an azure database that connects to my power bi application. Initially, I attempted to create an Azure SQL database, then realized I needed to have SQL Server Management Service in order to manage and connect between Azure SQL <=> Power BI, but since I am on a Mac, I had to use the complex installation as a workaround.

If MySQL Workbench can solve this (as the product is available on Mac), I am more than happy to proceed with this approach if it can achieve the same goal of connecting an azure database with my Power BI application

What I am trying to achieve is fairly simple: have an online cloud database that connects to my Power BI application

I am open to any other solutions as well

Thank you

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Replies (5)
Oded Arbel
Recommends
on
MySQL WorkBenchMySQL WorkBench

As others have noted, MySQL Workbench cannot be used instead of Microsoft SQL Manager to manage Azure SQL (MS-SQL Server, I hate that Microsoft uses generic category names for their products).

If you're considering switching to MySQL (Possibly using Azure MySQL managed database), then please not that unlike MS-SQL Server, you do not need the MySQL Workbench to connect your application to MysQL: just use the correct driver for your stack, and you're all set (if your stack is using the .Net platform, use MySQL Connector/NET from: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/net/ ).

If you do want to use a graphical interface to maintain your MySQL database, then MySQL Workbench is a great choice, but you are not limited to it - as others have mentioned, there is a plethora of competing graphical database management tools that would work just as well with MySQL - one of the advantages of choosing MySQL for your stack is the huge eco-system that is built around it.

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Lawrence Fernandes
Data Engineer at B2W Digital · | 1 upvotes · 193.1K views
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DBeaverDBeaver

Hello Could you give us a better idea of what Data Base Management System (DBMS) you are using at Azure? MySQL Workbench and Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) are tools developed to exclusively manage MySQL and SQL Server, respectively. If you need to manage multiple DBMS's from a single tool, I sugget you try DBeaver. There are also another alternatives: HeidiSQL, phpMyAdmin, etc. Regarding the DBMS itself, I suggest you stick with SQL Server. In my opinion it's more stable and has more features than MySQL - especially in the Standard and Enterprise editions. Regards, Lawrence

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Povilas Brilius
PHP Web Developer at GroundIn Software · | 1 upvotes · 193.5K views

As far as I know, MySQL Workbench doesn't handle Microsoft connections, including Azure, you should try Microsoft solutions such as MS VS Code.

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Julien DeFrance
Principal Software Engineer at Tophatter · | 1 upvotes · 193K views

Hi Aashwiin, Looking at your stack (https://stackshare.io/aashwiin82347/my-stack), it seems you are using Azure SQL Databases. I'll infer this is Microsoft SQL Server. Therefore, it certainly makes sense you stick with some of the official Microsoft Tooling to connect to it, query and administer it. You'd only be looking at MySQL Query Workbench, if you were running and connecting to a MySQL Database. - That said, could Azure MySQL (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mysql/overview) be an option for you a this point? MySQL offers great performance. I have been running it at various companies (under AWS/RDS and AWS/Aurora) and have no reason to switch over to anything else. - Decision making-wise, how much do your want your local sql/mysql client to influence/weigh in your architecture/technology decisions, though? This can be a slippery slope. - Alternatively, other clients exist, such as "Table Plus" and allow you to connect, on Mac, to a variety of database servers, including SQL Server. It might be worth giving it a try.

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Erica Rowe
Tech Lead at eComEngine LLC · | 1 upvotes · 193.1K views
Recommends
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AzureDataStudioAzureDataStudio

Microsoft provides an application known as Azure Data Studio that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. It provides the ability to manage an Azure SQL database, as well as connecting to standard SQL Server databases. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/azure-data-studio/what-is?view=sql-server-ver15

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Decisions about Android Room and MySQL WorkBench
Adam Taylor

We were looking a tool that would allow us to do MySQL and PostgreSQL development/administration from a single tool. We decided on Navicat Premium because it can connect to MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQLite databases - and simultaneously. It's also compatible with Amazon RDS and Microsoft Azure, which we also use.

Moreover, we previously experienced the occasional freezing and crashing in MySQL Workbench. It also suffered from a poor design, with certain features being a bit difficult to find. Meanwhile, phpMyAdmin lacked schema visualization tools and seemed better suited to lightweight day to day transactions than some of the big jobs that we needed to do.

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Pros of Android Room
Pros of MySQL WorkBench
  • 1
    Extensive documentation
  • 1
    Pushing bulk data to server easily
  • 1
    Easy to understand the transaction of data
  • 7
    Free
  • 7
    Simple
  • 6
    Easy to use
  • 5
    Clean UI
  • 3
    Administration and monitoring module

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What is Android Room?

It provides an abstraction layer over SQLite to allow fluent database access while harnessing the full power of SQLite. Apps that handle non-trivial amounts of structured data can benefit greatly from persisting that data locally. The most common use case is to cache relevant pieces of data.

What is MySQL WorkBench?

It enables a DBA, developer, or data architect to visually design, model, generate, and manage databases. It includes everything a data modeler needs for creating complex ER models, forward and reverse engineering, and also delivers key features for performing difficult change management and documentation tasks that normally require much time and effort.

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What companies use Android Room?
What companies use MySQL WorkBench?
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What are some alternatives to Android Room and MySQL WorkBench?
SQLite
SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine. Unlike most other SQL databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads and writes directly to ordinary disk files. A complete SQL database with multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views, is contained in a single disk file.
GreenDAO
It is an open source Android ORM making development for SQLite databases fun again. It relieves developers from dealing with low-level database requirements while saving development time.
Realm
The Realm Mobile Platform is a next-generation data layer for applications. Realm is reactive, concurrent, and lightweight, allowing you to work with live, native objects.
Firebase
Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications. Simply add the Firebase library to your application to gain access to a shared data structure; any changes you make to that data are automatically synchronized with the Firebase cloud and with other clients within milliseconds.
DBFlow
It is fast, efficient, and feature-rich Kotlin database library built on SQLite for Android. It utilizes annotation processing to generate SQLite boilerplate for you and provides a powerful SQLite query language that makes using SQLite a joy.
See all alternatives