I started to read and learn more about JDBC while Alice is still working on the MySQL database thingy. As I may mentioned earlier in my journal, JDBC is Java DataBase Connectivity. In order to use JDBC, we need to have Java tm, JDBC API, JDK (Java Development Kit), and JDBC driver.
Cathy told me that we already have java setup on the UNIX. I also found there is JSDK (Java Servlet Development Kit) under medinfo. Since I had no idea what the difference between JDK and JSDK, I got on line and found out that JSDK is more complete and advanced than JDK, so anything we need from JDK is also in JSDK. Thus the last thing I need is download JDBC driver. Since we are using MySQL as our database server, we need some specific drivers that work with MySQL. I found two drivers both work with MySQL from MySQL official homepage, so I think both of them are reliable since MySQL recommended them. After I read both webpages, I decided to go with mm.mysql driver. I downloaded it and unpacked it. I have to mention it here. The download file is under *.jar format, I've never unpacked *.jar file on Unix before. But I got it all figured it out myself, I was so happy that day after I unpacked the driver.
jar xf [filename.jar]
In my case, it is
jar xf mm.mysql-2.0.1-bin.jar
The next step, however, made me very frustrated, which is setting up the CLASSPATH. In order to have the Unix load the CLASSPATH automatically every time I log in, I need to put CLASSPATH into .cshrc file. I had never touched a Unix box before this DMP project, I had no idea how to do it. I read a lot of documents online, but none of them really helped. Finally Cathy showed it to me and I finished the whole thing. Next week, I'll start to create a small dummy file and use JDBC to retrieve the data and see if JDBC works properly.
setenv CLASSPATH .:[other alreay existed files]:/var/tmp/mm.mysql-2.01:[other already existed files]
Oh, another thing I want to mention: I also figured out how to use command
xhost +
to load xemacs under medinfo and use command
setenv DISPLAY galt:0.0
to load xemacs when I remotely log into ender from my galt.
For fun stuff:
I joined a swimming class two weeks ago. We meet twice a week. I knew the body stroke and the back stroke before, but I was not very good at free style. Now I am not only getting good at free style, I also learned the butterfly. However, I got cramp in my calf when I was doing the butterfly yesterday. It was the very first time I got cramp in my whole life. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it'd be, but it was still not fun.