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User Reviews

DBDesigner
DBDesigner

DBDesigner is a (open source) visual database design system that integrates database design, modeling, creation and maintenance into a single, seamless environment. It allows you to manage the datab ...

Average of 4 user ratings: 4


  • Mar 07, 2006
  • For version:
  • 4.0.5.6

quote  Impressive  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 2
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 3

As someone who have spent more then my fair share (9 years and counting) inside ERWin, ER Studio and Powerdesigner (costing up to 2,500 GBP without repository/modelmart), I believe I can judge this little beauty more then fairly. Yes, it is in fact quite amazing in its simplicity, and if one works with larger mySql models, its truly a great boon (open sourced, runs on linux etc, etc). It does however have some (for me) serious shortcomings, all which could have "easily" been addressed, when working with databases other then MySQL (datatypes comes to mind. fixable, but a hassle to do so manually). domain modelling made way to difficult (some ppl like it, others dont care. guess the designers of dbd belongs to the latter). Also fixable i believe. visually, it is stunning. really. considering the xml storage model, I believe it would be quite "simple" to build a highly functional model repository too. In short, I see a huge potential in this software.

user Review by: f_eriksen
First post


  • Nov 11, 2005
  • For version:
  • 4.0.5.6

quote  Ideal for general database design  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 4

I've been using dbdesigner for a year now and recently introduced it here at the office. So far, our system analyst finds it very helpful in designing large, complex databases. The user interface is great and we would like to see more improvements in the features. Thank you Fabforce for making such a wonderful tool available FOR FREE!

user Review by: jose_suria
First post


  • Mar 05, 2005
  • For version:
  • 4.0.5.6

quote  A very worthwhile download  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Every now and then a program comes along that you really don't expect much from because it's free, but it surprises you and then you wonder how it can be free. This is one such program. I have literally seen programs costing over a hundred dollars, a HUNDRED dollars, that are either not as good or at least no better at all than dbDesigner. I have a strong aversion to paying for anything I can get free, so I have to wonder why anyone needing dbDesigner's functionality would pay some other company for it! dbDesigner is well laid out, it doesn't crash, it does exactly what it says and it's full of useful features. I'd seriously question the wisdom of anyone who would buy any of several similar programs that are out there for sale. If you are such a person, please call me; there are certain investments I'd like to talk to you about...

user Review by: Toulinwoek (25)
Read all 25 reviews by Toulinwoek


  • Nov 24, 2004
  • For version:
  • 4.0.5.6

quote  This is a craking bit of kit!  quote

  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

It's well worth downloading this and have a rummage around. I did, and it was well worth the effort. I particularly like to plug in for PHP4, which saved me hours of development time.

user Review by: JamesDurrant
First post