Many in the PostgreSQL community use Microsoft Access as a front-end to their PostgreSQL databases.
Although MS Access is strictly a windows application and PostgreSQL has its roots in Unix, the two go well together. A large part of that reason is because
the PostgreSQL ODBC driver is well maintained and has frequent updates. You can expect one new ODBC driver release every 4-6 months. There exist only 32-bit production quality drivers. The 64-bit driver is of alpha quality. In addition to other front-ends to PostgreSQL that utilize the ODBC driver used by Windows developers, there is VB 6 (VB.NET/C# use the ADO.NET driver also very well maintained), Visual FoxPro, Delphi, to name a few).
People who have never used Microsoft Access or anything like it and consider themselves hard-core programmers or database purists, dismiss Microsoft Access as a dangerous child's toy, causing nothing but grief when real programmers and database administrators have to debug the
disorganized mess of amateurs. They dream of the day when this nuisance is rid of and their company can be finally under the strict bureaucratic control of well-designed apps that no one cares to use.
Beneath the croft of this dinkiness/dangerous toy is a RAD and Reporting tool that
can connect to any database with an ODBC or ADO driver. It serves the unique niche of
- Empowering a knowledge worker/beginner programmer/DB user who is slowly discovering the wonders of relational databases and what time savings such a tool can provide.
- On the other side - it is inviting to the pragmatic (lazy) database programmer who has spent precious time to investigate its gems. The pragmatist sees it as a tool which provides a speedy development environment and intuitive reporting environment. It allows one to give more freedom to less experienced users, thus relieving one of tedious requests for information. By using it as a front-end to a strong server-side database such as PostgreSQL, it allows one to enforce a sufficient
level of data integrity and control. The pragmatist realizes that often the best way to maintain order is to not fight disorder because the more you try to restrict
people's freedoms, the craftier they get in devising ways of circumventing your traps.
The pragmatic programmer also takes the view of Give a man a fish and he will pester you for more fish. Teach a man to fish and he will help you catch bigger fish.
