Comparison of database design tools
Name
Lauri Lutter
Abstract
The aim of the thesis is to compare and analyse three database design tools: Gliffy, DBDesigner, and MySQL Workbench. In co-operation with his supervisor, the author put together nine criteria that were used in analysing all three tools. The author also created a test task that was carried out with all of the aforementioned database design tools to provide an equal basis for comparison.
In case of each tool, the analysis starts with a short introduction and overwiev of the tool. Then the author analyses the tool based on the following criteria: 1) learning curve – how long it takes to learn to use the tool; 2) documentation – the structure of it, whether it is easy to find, the existence of additional helping material (e.g. graphics, videos, screen shots, etc.), and also the users’ opinion of the tool’s documentation; 3) community – how active is the community and how it is represented (e.g. official forum, social media, etc.); 4) the possibilities for the export and import of diagram; 5) possibilities for forward engineering, reverse engineering, and synchronisation between the diagram and database; 6) teamwork support; 7) developing – whether there is an ongoing developing of the tool (e.g. patches, new releases, etc.); 8) support of operating systems – what operating systems the tool runs (e.g. Windows, Linux, MacOS X). There is also a summary at the end of each tool analysis, giving an overview of the positive and negative aspects of the tool.
From the three database design tools analysed, MySQL Workbench received the best results. It is a highly capable tool for developing and administering databases. It also has a short learning curve and it provides an opportunity to very easily keep the diagramm and physical database synchronised. MySQL Workbench was followed by Gliffy that received a good score in the analysis but is no option to connect with a database, making it unsuitable for a professional database developer. Its strong side is its simplicity and it is ideal for someone who needs to create diagram fast and without much effort. DBDesigner’s strength is its short learning curve and possibility to make database connections which means the diagram made with the tool can be generated into a physical database. It received a lower score compared to other tools analysed because its latest edition is from 2003 and it is no longer developed further.
Graduation Thesis language
Estonian
Graduation Thesis type
Bachelor - Information Technology
Supervisor(s)
Vambola Leping
Defence year
2012