A Quick Guide on Adminer Open Source Database Software

Most modern apps and programs need efficient databases to store their data. Though ample choices are available, the selection of a database depends on its cost, flexibility and support from hosting providers. Open source database software is your best pick and here we are introducing one such bet.

Adminer (formerly phpMinAdmin) is a popular, open source database software that allows users to easily connect to and manage their databases. Whether you are a developer working on a web application or a database administrator maintaining a complex database system, Adminer can help you streamline your work and improve your productivity.

This write-up is for the sole purpose of introducing my fellow professionals who are engaged in open source software development to try their hands on this versatile and easy-to-use database management tool. I will be quickly sifting through the advantages and disadvantages of Adminer. I will also discuss how it can be run on Docker and how SSH support can be attained, and will be touching upon plugin support and Adminer themes.

Advantages of using Adminer as a database management tool (DBMS)

Advanced features: In addition to its core database management capabilities, Adminer also includes a number of advanced features that can be helpful for more experienced users. For example, you can import and export data, schedule backups, and view server information and statistics.

Lightweight design: One of the main benefits of using Adminer open source database software is its lightweight design. The tool is written in PHP, which means it can be easily installed on most web servers and accessed from any web browser. This makes it an ideal choice for users who need to manage their databases remotely or from multiple locations.

Open-source and free: Adminer is open-source and free to use, which makes it an affordable and accessible option for users who need a database management tool.

Overall, Adminer is a powerful and user-friendly open source database management tool that can help users of all skill levels manage their databases more efficiently. Whether you are a developer, database administrator, or simply someone looking for a simple and effective way to manage your databases, Adminer is definitely worth considering.

Disadvantages of Adminer as a database management tool (DBMS)

One disadvantage of Adminer is that it does not offer as many features and tools as some of the other database management tools on the market. While it is a powerful and user-friendly tool, it may not have all of the advanced features and capabilities that more experienced users or larger organizations might need.

Another potential drawback is that Adminer is a single-user tool, which means that multiple users cannot connect to the same database simultaneously. This can be limiting for organizations with a large number of users who need to access and manage the same database.

Additionally, Adminer does not include any built-in security features, such as encryption or password protection. This means that users must take additional steps to secure their database and protect their data.

Finally, while Adminer is open-source and free to use, it does not have a large community of developers or a dedicated support team. This can make it more difficult to find help or resources if you encounter any issues or have questions about the tool.

Overall, while Adminer is a useful and user-friendly database management tool, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Depending on your specific needs and requirements, you may want to consider other options that offer more advanced features or support for multiple users.

Adminer on Docker 

Adminer can be easily run as a Docker container, which allows you to easily deploy and manage the tool in a containerized environment.

To run Adminer as a Docker container, you will need to have Docker installed on your system. Then, you can pull the latest version of the Adminer Docker image from the Docker Hub using the following command:

docker pull adminer

Once the image is downloaded, you can start a new container using the docker run command. For example:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 --name adminer adminer

This will start a new Adminer container and bind it to port 8080 on the host. You can then access the Adminer interface by visiting “http://localhost:8080” in your web browser.

To connect to a database, you will need to pass the appropriate environment variables to the container. For example, to connect to a MySQL database, you might use the following command:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -e DB_SERVER=localhost -e DB_USERNAME=root -e DB_PASSWORD=password --name adminer adminer

This will start a new Adminer container and connect it to a local MySQL server using the specified username and password.

Running Adminer as a Docker container can be a convenient way to deploy and manage the tool in a containerized environment. It allows you to easily spin up new instances of the tool and connect to different databases as needed.

SSH support

Adminer does not have built-in support for connecting to a database over an SSH (Secure Shell) connection. However, it is possible to use a third-party tool, such as an SSH tunnel, to establish an SSH connection and then connect to the database through the tunnel.

To do this, you will need to set up an SSH tunnel between your local machine and the remote server where the database is hosted. You can use a tool like “ssh” or “putty” to set up the tunnel.

Once the tunnel is established, you can connect to the database through the tunnel by specifying the appropriate hostname and port. The hostname will be “localhost” and the port will be the local port that you specified when setting up the tunnel.

For example, if you set up an SSH tunnel on local port 3306 and your database is hosted on the remote server at “localhost:3306”, you can connect to the database through the tunnel by specifying the hostname “localhost” and the port “3306” in the Adminer connection settings.

Keep in mind that you will need to have the appropriate credentials and permissions to connect to the database over an SSH tunnel.

Overall, while Adminer as a full-featured open source database management software does not have built-in support for connecting to a database over an SSH connection, you can use a third-party tool to establish an SSH tunnel and connect to the database through the tunnel. This can be a convenient way to securely connect to a remote database.

Plugin Support

Adminer is a modular tool, which means that it can be extended with plugins to add new features and functionalities. There are several plugins available for Adminer that can be used to enhance the tool and make it more powerful and useful.

Here are a few examples of plugins that are available for Adminer:

Import plugin: This plugin allows you to import data from a CSV or SQL file into a database.

Export plugin: This plugin allows you to export data from a database to a CSV or SQL file.

Multi-tenancy plugin: This plugin allows you to manage multiple databases from a single Adminer instance, making it easier to manage multi-tenant systems.

Adminer Designer: This plugin adds a visual designer tool to Adminer, which allows you to design and edit database structures using a graphical interface.

Adminer Foreign Keys: This plugin adds support for foreign keys to Adminer, making it easier to manage relationships between tables.

Adminer TTS: This plugin adds support for text-to-speech functionality to Adminer, allowing you to listen to the results of your queries.

To install a plugin, simply download the plugin file and place it in the plugins directory of your Adminer installation. Then, enable the plugin by adding it to the list of plugins in the config.php file.

Overall, Adminer plugins can be a great way to extend the functionality of the tool and make it more powerful and useful for your specific needs.

Adminer Themes

Adminer allows you to customize the appearance of the tool by using themes. Themes are CSS stylesheets that can be used to change the look and feel of the Adminer interface.

There are several themes available for Adminer, ranging from simple and minimalistic to more colorful and modern. Some popular themes include:

Adminer Flat: A minimalistic theme with a flat design.

Adminer Classic: A classic, blue-themed design.

Adminer Modern: A modern, colorful theme with a clean and fresh look.

To use a theme with Adminer, simply download the theme file and place it in the themes directory of your Adminer installation. Then, select the theme in the Adminer settings or specify the theme in the config.php file.

You can also create your own custom theme by creating a new CSS stylesheet and placing it in the themes directory. This allows you to fully customize the look and feel of the Adminer interface to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Overall, themes are a useful feature of Adminer that allow you to customize the appearance of the tool and make it more visually appealing and easier to use.

Wrapping Up

Adminer is an open-source web-based free DBMS tool which is a lightweight phpMyAdmin alternative. Thanks to the extreme flexibility with which its users can create, edit or delete tables and columns, and create and call stored procedures and functions, it is one of the popular open source database software.

I hope that you too will find Adminer as a better and simple open source alternative to database management.