How to Use PHP and MySQL Document Store

PHP Developers can now try the MySQL Document Store by using the MySQL X DevAPI for PHP PECL Extension. Developers in other languages have had access for a while but now PHP coders can get in on the action and use the MySQL Document Store.

What Does the Code Look Like?

#!/usr/bin/php
<?PHP
// Connection parameters
  $user = 'root';
  $passwd = 'S3cret#';
  $host = 'localhost';
  $port = '33060';
  $connection_uri = 'mysqlx://'.$user.':'.$passwd.'@'.$host.':'.$port;
  echo $connection_uri . "\n";

// Connect as a Node Session
  $nodeSession = mysql_xdevapi\getNodeSession($connection_uri);
// "USE world_x"
  $schema = $nodeSession->getSchema("world_x");
// Specify collection to use
  $collection = $schema->getCollection("countryinfo");
// SELECT * FROM world_x WHERE _id = "USA"
  $result = $collection->find('_id = "USA"')->execute();
// Fetch/Display data
  $data = $result->fetchAll();
  var_dump($data);
?>

Well, PHP code is PHP code. The big changes is that the developer no longer needs to use Structured Query Language to talk with the database. Now one connects to the schema of choice, sets the collection to use used, and then finds the record(s) of choice. Zero SQL involved.

PECL Extension

PECL is the PHP Community Library which houses all sorts of treasures. Now it also houses the MySQL XDevAPI extension. I have had the best luck with downloading the software and building it on my system following the directions in the README file. This is not an easy build but keep plugging and you will get it built.

Output

dstokes@davelaptop:~/phpxdev$ php 001.php
mysqlx://root:hidave@localhost:33060
array(1) {
  [0]=>
  array(7) {
    ["GNP"]=>
    int(8510700)
    ["_id"]=>
    string(3) "USA"
    ["Name"]=>
    string(13) "United States"
    ["IndepYear"]=>
    int(1776)
    ["geography"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["Region"]=>
      string(13) "North America"
      ["Continent"]=>
      string(13) "North America"
      ["SurfaceArea"]=>
      int(9363520)
    }
    ["government"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["HeadOfState"]=>
      string(14) "George W. Bush"
      ["GovernmentForm"]=>
      string(16) "Federal Republic"
    }
    ["demographics"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["Population"]=>
      int(278357000)
      ["LifeExpectancy"]=>
      float(77.099998474121)
    }
  }
}

Next Time

More PHP and MySQL Document Store code!