GUI MySQL database frontend

Question

I have a slightly hopeless wish list for a piece of software, and I don't know if it exists.

What it needs:

• To be free to use (in a small business)
• To run on a php server with a MySql database
• To be a GUI database front end
• To do more that CRUD. In particular I need to be able to create custom forms, and insert and delete multiple records from multiple tables in one action. This sort of process building is the main criteria I am looking for.
• To have some ajax support so it looks good
• To deal with all the logins automatically
• To not require any proper programming. The whole project can be built in the browser
• Hopefully have some advanced features like sending email, scheduled jobs, etc.
• The end product has to be client-facing, so it can't be an administrator tool where someone who doesn't know what they are doing can break it
• To make you a cup of coffee if you want one.

Can you tell me if it does exist?

Solution 1

Well I highly doubt you are going to find any solution that does ALL of what you are asking, especially if you want it all to be free. But I will point you to phpMyAdmin.

If you haven't come across it yet, it is a web-based front end for a MySQL database (runs on a php server). It is easy to deploy and can maintain multiple user logins. It's not too strong in the ajax department and I've never heard of anything like scheduled jobs or email for it but that stuff can all be done in different ways.

Think of phpMyAdmin as a database editor on the web, it's not going to be something you're going to want to hand over to clients to mess around with though.

Solution 2

To the OP, this meets almost all of your requirements, including Ajax, Client facing, web based build, no proper coding required, etc... except it does not make coffee, and is not free, but at only $48 one-time, it's not a deal breaker:

PHP MYSQL Form Maker http://mysqlreports.com/

Solution 3

There's a newer tool that fits a lot of your needs. You can check it out here:

Eliacom Enhanced SQL Portal (ESP)

There is also a demo that you can use to login to any database server here (note that to use it, it will install a few extra tables into your database to hold formatting information that you set in the front end):

Eliacom ESP Demo

Here's how it breaks down with your criteria:

• It's free
• It's written in PHP To run on a php server with a MySql database
• It is a GUI It's basically as easy to use as Excel for inline editing. Organize your tables in trees, layout and rename columns, all from the GUI.
• It does more that CRUD This probably its strongest point. You can create pretty much anything. For really fancy stuff you need to know a little HTML. You can definitely delete multiple records very easily. Inserting multiple records can be done via a past function (or upload).
• It's completely ajax and it looks pretty modern
• It deals with logging in and session handling (it locks sessions after a while too) With a single instance you can log into any server (that you have access to of course).
• You don't need any programming. If you want to make very snappy forms, you need to know some HTML (the forms look pretty good even without that).
• It's completely web-based and controlled via a browser
• The base system doesn't have scheduling/email, but you can purchase an add-on that has scheduling of jobs/emailing, etc. I believe they already have this if they are hosting it for you. Just not in the general release. In the general release, if you know a little PHP, you can add listeners to when tables are modified and do things like send emails (you add these from the front end).
• The base product is meant for database administration, but there are add-ons for purchase. They have an app for purchase that gives you the ability to give control to other users (with a lot of permission settings of what they can/can't do so they can't break stuff). They also have a Publisher app that you can create a link that will allow forms/tables to be published to the open internet (for public data viewing/entering).
• Coffee... They take requests from users, so if you have a feature request, you can contact them.

Comments

[Adams Biyi]

It's an industry staple. At the very least try it. I've been using it for ~8 years, and never needed anything else.

[Jared]

I make all of my tables in phpmyadmin. It's great.

[user170]

Thank-you for this suggestion. Actually I should have specified that the end product has to be client-facing, so myAdmin wouldn't work I'm afraid.

[Jochem]

Links do not work anymore.