Using MySQL databases in Mathematica

Question

I\'ve seen it\'s possible to make a connection between Mathematica and MySQL databases using Input Needs[\"DatabaseLink\"] and conn = OpenSQLConnection[JDBC[\

Answer 1

I recently used databases to speed up a Manipulate[] block.

Without the database, essential data from a 150 MB ASCII file were required in memory for access. As a result, the Manipulate[] block slowed down. It's possible that PackedArray[] would have helped. I didn't investigate this.

With the database, the speed of access of individual datasets is slightly slower than a Select[] block, but the memory footprint is down by a factor of nearly 10.

I'd say go for it.