The February 2008 issue of php|architect features an article by Mac Newbold titled “Database Design for PHP Programmers”. Here’s the blurb:
While PHP can do a lot of great things by itself, it can do much more when you add a relational database. Whether you use MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MicroSoft SQL Server or SQLite, the way you design your schema and build your tables has a big impact on the abilities of your application. By the same token, mistakes in your database structure can be very difficult to fix or overcome. A little bit of careful planning can go a long way.
It’s a pretty good article about database design and I think all PHP developers who are just starting to integrate databases in their applications should read it. However, there are a few things I’d like to add and point out.
