Comments on: MySQL Website a Reflection of Values http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values News and views from Pythian DBAs Thu, 4 Dec 2008 17:56:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: bafi http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-208257 bafi Thu, 29 May 2008 21:44:46 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-208257 I didn’t even realized mysql.org was something that was out there. I just search for MySQL on google and mysql.org doesn’t show up on the first page at all. So as a “new” user to MySQL a person would intuitively go to the first link, which is MySQL.com. Now that I know to use mysql.org it’ll save me some key strokes rather than typing dev.mysql.com. I didn’t even realized mysql.org was something that was out there. I just search for MySQL on google and mysql.org doesn’t show up on the first page at all. So as a “new” user to MySQL a person would intuitively go to the first link, which is MySQL.com. Now that I know to use mysql.org it’ll save me some key strokes rather than typing dev.mysql.com.

]]> By: Brady http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-203410 Brady Fri, 23 May 2008 02:03:00 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-203410 I've been using MySQL for 5+ years now, and using the MySQL website is still a horrible experience every time. Not just getting to the documentation! My boss asked me to find out what it costs to get certified in MySQL and it took me at least 15 minutes to find that information! I submitted this as a plea to MySQL through their "Contact Us" form to simplify their website and actually got a response back with the pertinent information, and quickly too. So I just wanted to point out that though their website is in serious need of a complete makeover, their customer service skills are definitely good. Brady I’ve been using MySQL for 5+ years now, and using the MySQL website is still a horrible experience every time. Not just getting to the documentation! My boss asked me to find out what it costs to get certified in MySQL and it took me at least 15 minutes to find that information!

I submitted this as a plea to MySQL through their “Contact Us” form to simplify their website and actually got a response back with the pertinent information, and quickly too. So I just wanted to point out that though their website is in serious need of a complete makeover, their customer service skills are definitely good.

Brady

]]> By: David Daniel http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-202040 David Daniel Tue, 20 May 2008 15:02:02 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-202040 I am also a MySQL newbie and I often find the MySQL site to frustrating. On my first MySQL download, I was confused in just the way Sheeri described: "A newbie would be presented with the links, think “I don’t know which to choose!” but then see that the descriptions are just underneath." Newbies are important to business too! Some will become future users and, hopefully, experts. Thanks for posting your observations Sheeri. I am also a MySQL newbie and I often find the MySQL site to frustrating. On my first MySQL download, I was confused in just the way Sheeri described: “A newbie would be presented with the links, think “I don’t know which to choose!” but then see that the descriptions are just underneath.”

Newbies are important to business too! Some will become future users and, hopefully, experts.

Thanks for posting your observations Sheeri.

]]> By: Alex Gorbachev http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201714 Alex Gorbachev Mon, 19 May 2008 23:51:14 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201714 I can consider myself a MySQL newbie and I can only confirm that I was confused by trying to get to documentation from mysql.com. I had to consult documentation all the time while working on MySQL plug-in for Oracle Grid Control. Now whenever I need documentation, I Google "mysql docs" and optionally adding a version for a direct link. I don't bother more than few seconds if I can't get somewhere quickly - Google is my friend. I can consider myself a MySQL newbie and I can only confirm that I was confused by trying to get to documentation from mysql.com. I had to consult documentation all the time while working on MySQL plug-in for Oracle Grid Control. Now whenever I need documentation, I Google “mysql docs” and optionally adding a version for a direct link.

I don’t bother more than few seconds if I can’t get somewhere quickly - Google is my friend.

]]> By: Markus Popp http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201581 Markus Popp Mon, 19 May 2008 16:32:19 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201581 It was only recently that we added a link to the Community download page to the nav bar at www.mysql.com. I really think we should go that one step further and also add a link to the Documentation. Maybe not directly into the nav bar (to avoid overstuffing it), but I personally think they should both (Downloads and Documentation) be on a well visible place. It was only recently that we added a link to the Community download page to the nav bar at http://www.mysql.com. I really think we should go that one step further and also add a link to the Documentation. Maybe not directly into the nav bar (to avoid overstuffing it), but I personally think they should both (Downloads and Documentation) be on a well visible place.

]]> By: Ben http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201576 Ben Mon, 19 May 2008 16:01:35 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201576 Sheeri - one more comment, regarding Sun/MySQL. If you go to sun.com, hover over "downloads" in the menu, and click on MySQL, you will get a page with "Get It Now" buttons for community or enterprise software. The documentation is still not obvious though (at least to me): I had to poke around, ended up going to "downloads/MySQL", clicking on the Overview tab, then "community", and then its under the "developer resources" section! (Forums are linked to on the same page too.) A bit convoluted, but it is there. Sheeri -

one more comment, regarding Sun/MySQL. If you go to sun.com, hover over “downloads” in the menu, and click on MySQL, you will get a page with “Get It Now” buttons for community or enterprise software.

The documentation is still not obvious though (at least to me): I had to poke around, ended up going to “downloads/MySQL”, clicking on the Overview tab, then “community”, and then its under the “developer resources” section! (Forums are linked to on the same page too.) A bit convoluted, but it is there.

]]> By: Sheeri Cabral http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201279 Sheeri Cabral Sun, 18 May 2008 13:42:31 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201279 Rasmus -- I'm referring to new users, not regular ones :) Prajwal -- the MySQL website was awful long before Sun ever acquired it. Rasmus — I’m referring to new users, not regular ones :)

Prajwal — the MySQL website was awful long before Sun ever acquired it.

]]> By: Sheeri Cabral http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201275 Sheeri Cabral Sun, 18 May 2008 13:21:55 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201275 Ben -- good catch! So it is one click off the home page.....but definitely "test drive" doesn't help.... Marten -- most people go to dot com for any site. :( Ben — good catch! So it is one click off the home page…..but definitely “test drive” doesn’t help….

Marten — most people go to dot com for any site. :(

]]> By: Giuseppe Maxia http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201231 Giuseppe Maxia Sun, 18 May 2008 09:39:57 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201231 Prajwal , I would like to dispel the insurgent myth that Sun has removed the documentation link from MySQL site. Let's get the facts. Most popular web pages are recorded at archive.org. If you want to see how MySQL site was one, two, three, many years ago, see this link http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.mysql.com/ Sun may have been guilty of many sins, but micromanaging MySQL web site is not one of them. Giuseppe Prajwal ,
I would like to dispel the insurgent myth that Sun has removed the documentation link from MySQL site.
Let’s get the facts. Most popular web pages are recorded at archive.org. If you want to see how MySQL site was one, two, three, many years ago, see this link
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.mysql.com/

Sun may have been guilty of many sins, but micromanaging MySQL web site is not one of them.

Giuseppe

]]> By: Rasmus http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201179 Rasmus Sun, 18 May 2008 05:48:26 +0000 http://www.pythian.com/blogs/1016/mysql-website-a-reflection-of-values#comment-201179 I think most regular MySQL users have figured out that mysql.com has php.net-like auto-redirection into the documentation. Forgot the syntax for a left join, just type: mysql.com/left join in your url bar, and you get directly to the correct spot in the documentation. Trying to navigate a bunch of links is way too inefficient, and besides, you should never click on a link anyway. I think most regular MySQL users have figured out that mysql.com has php.net-like auto-redirection into the documentation. Forgot the syntax for a left join, just type: mysql.com/left join
in your url bar, and you get directly to the correct spot in the documentation. Trying to navigate a bunch of links is way too inefficient, and besides, you should never click on a link anyway.

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