Getting started w/ Database programming

Question

I'm brand new to stackoverflow and programming in general, and this is going to be a somewhat long-winded question, so please bear with me:

Background: I'm using Xcode 4.6.3 on OS X 10.8.4 for all coding atm.

I've been configuring databases on Filemaker pro as a hobby for a few years now (for those who aren't familiar with FM, think MS Access or similar) and am now looking into C++, objective C and cocoa in order to build a database free of any kind of 'parent' program like FM.

Specifically; I have used filemaker to configure a clients database incorporating POS and accounting features for a few small businesses. This, however, requires each user to already have filemaker installed in order to be able to run my db.

Edit: Perhaps a less ambitious question: What languages/libraries/APIs/etc will I need to learn in order to create my own front end for a MySQL driven database?

ie, for a very simple start: A Clients table with columns: ClientID, ClientName and Visits table with columns: VisitID, ClientID (relational) and VisitDate AND a front end GUI for OS X capable of creating/editing/deleting/searching records.

Answer 1

You don't want to write your own database. If you want to write some crude persistence layer where you're reading/writing files (or something similar), then that's fine.

Here is a link about why you don't want to write your own database: http://ayende.com/blog/162691/worlds-smallest-no-sql-database

If the main reason you don't want to use a third party database like Filemaker Pro is that it costs money ... there are tons of rock solid databases that are free.

Go check out SQLite, MySQL, Postgres, or even MongoDB.