MySQL not in the dropdown for new Accounts

[David Zelinsky]

David Carlson <david.carlson.417 at gmail.com> writes:

> On 3/31/2013 10:32 AM, David Zelinsky wrote:
>> Colin Law <clanlaw at googlemail.com> writes:
>> 
>>> Try  sudo apt-get install libdbd-mysql
>> 
>> I also ran into this, ... I think this is a serious failing in
>> documentation.
<snip>
> 
> The developers are currently kind of busy with getting the next release
> out, and they may not have time to respond promptly. 
>
> The short form history lesson is that there is a long term migration
> happening from the XML format data file to database format(s) that are
> usually accessed by SQL such as MySQL.. 
>
> To date the migration is still in a very early stage where most users
> are still better off staying with the XML type file.  There is very
> little documentation partly because they are not recommending users to
> switch. 
>
> I would suggest not trying to use MySQL until the developers start
> recommending it to ordinary users.

Thanks for that information.  That's the sort of thing that would be
useful to have documented somewhere.

The gnucash web site says this:

  "The GnuCash development team proudly announces GnuCash 2.4.12
  ... With this release series, GnuCash can use an SQL database using
  SQLite3, MySQL or PostgreSQL. ... "

If the developers do not intend to recommend an SQL database for
ordinary users, it might be a good idea for them to say so, if not in
the same paragraph as above, at least _somewhere_ in the documentation.

I do appreciate that the developers are busy, and the issue I raise is
likely not a high priority.  But I still think it makes sense to
register it somewhere.

-David