[Tutor] Method to create small and simple database

[Joel Montes de Oca]

Hello everyone,

About me:

This is the first time I post to Tutor at Python.org.

I am brand spanking new to Python. I can create simple application, gone 
through a few tutorials and watched the Google Python 2 day class on 
Youtube. (List of classes: http://goo.gl/Ud5rg)

Just yesterday I figured out how to load up a GUI made in Glade and pass 
singles around and what not. Huge accomplishment for me since 
documentation is a bit shaky for noobs like me. :)

I have some programming knowledge. I learned (self tough) VB when I was 
in middle school and then did a intro to C++ in college. Of course 
mentioning that is trivial since I haven't done any programming for 
about 5 years or so.. But I do know basic concepts. Just need a little 
push in the right direction..

--------------------------------------

I think I know how to design my application but I would like to put it 
on here for you guys to review and provide me with feedback/suggestions 
as to the best way to go about it.

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The application:

I want to build a simple application that keeps track of items borrowers 
check out. So the end user types in the names of /borrowers/ and also 
types in a list of /items/. Then the end user checks out the /items/ to 
the /borrowers/.

The category that my application would fall under is close to 
/collection management tools/. Here's a list of a few other applications 
that do something like what I am aiming for: 
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/4-open-source-collection-manager-apps/

In addition to the application keeping track of who has what, I would 
like to code the date the items are out, which borrowers have not 
borrowed anything in the last month, and so on. That said, I need to 
setup some kind of database like file. I don't want to have a database 
server though.

The reason I want to build a new tool is because:

    A) I want to play around with Python
    B) My friend needs the application to be simple and geared to his
    needs without too many extra bells & whistles


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My method:

I was thinking of using the lxmal module to construct a XML file to 
read/write all the information.

I figured this was the easiest way to do what I need since the 
information is setup as a tree. (Easy to think about and see) Example:

<app>
<borrowers>

<user>John Doe</user>

<checked out> Item1:Item2:||2011/4/2</checked out>

<user>Mary Doe</user>

<checked out> Item3||2011/7/22</checked out>

</borrowers>
<objects>

<item>Item1</item>

<createdOn>2011/2/1</createdOn>

<checked_out_times>32</checked_out_times>

<item>Item2</item>

<createdOn>2011/2/1</createdOn>

<checked_out_times>22</checked_out_times>

<item>Item3</item>

<createdOn>2011/2/1</createdOn>

<checked_out_times>1</checked_out_times>
</objects>
</app>

The application will not be used in an enterprise kind of environment. 
The application is meant to hold about 80 borrowers and about 100 items 
and that's about it.

Is this a good way to go about my project? Is there a better & easier way?

I don't want to trade off "better" with "easy". Someone once suggested 
on Freenode #Python that I should use a sql database. I don't remember 
the name of it. It was something like lightsql or something like that. 
That particular database didn't use a server end. I guess it spit out a 
txt database or something... This might be a good time to mention I know 
very little about database construction or sql commands.

Anyhow, I am looking forward to hearing opinion's and suggestions.

Thanks!


-- -Joel M
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