Installing MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite | Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Before you can start writing SQL queries and working with databases, you need to install a database management system (DBMS). This section will guide you step-by-step on how to install three of the most popular relational database systems: MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.

Installing MySQL

MySQL is one of the most popular open-source relational database management systems. It’s widely used in web applications, especially with PHP (e.g., the LAMP stack).

Steps to Install MySQL:

On Windows:

  • Visit the official MySQL Downloads Page.
  • Download the MySQL Installer for Windows.
  • Run the installer and choose "Developer Default" setup type.
  • Follow the setup wizard and set a root password when prompted.
  • Use MySQL Workbench or the command line to start running SQL queries.

On macOS:

  • Use Homebrew:
brew install mysql
brew services start mysql
  • Set the root password using:
mysql_secure_installation

On Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mysql-server
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Installing PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source object-relational database system known for its robustness and advanced features.

On Windows:

  • Visit the official PostgreSQL Downloads Page.
  • Download the PostgreSQL Installer.
  • Install the PostgreSQL server, pgAdmin, and StackBuilder.
  • Set your password for the postgres user.
  • Use pgAdmin or the command line to connect.

On macOS:

  • Use Homebrew:
brew install postgresql
brew services start postgresql

On Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib
  • Switch to the postgres user:
sudo -i -u postgres
psql

Installing SQLite

SQLite is a lightweight, file-based database. It's great for development and testing.

On Windows:

  • Download the sqlite-tools ZIP file.
  • Extract it and add the folder to your system PATH.
  • Open cmd and run:
sqlite3

On macOS:

Check if SQLite is already installed:

sqlite3 --version

If not, install it with Homebrew:

brew install sqlite

On Linux:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install sqlite3

Verifying Installation

You can verify the installations with:

  • MySQL:
mysql -u root -p
  • PostgreSQL:
psql -U postgres
  • SQLite:
sqlite3

Conclusion

Now that you’ve successfully installed MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, you’re ready to start learning SQL and building real-world database applications.