Is it possible to synchronize a mysql server with a local Firebird database?

Question

I’m new to web applications, and I have a Mysql DBMS-based website.

What is the best way to synchronize the web bank with a local bank (the bank being on a fixed ip)? The local bank is Firebird.

Answer 1

First I want you to understand that Firebird and Mysql does not have a "so good" compatibility and would probably not be able to import the data from one another, each database and table that a developer creates has no way of having something ready that works exactly for your need.

I can’t say which is the best way, but I will tell you about something that is widely used for this purpose, I mean sharing data from a server with other environments.

You should create a webservice (preferably using server authentication).

What is a webservice:

Webservice is a solution used in system integration and communication between different applications. With this technology it is possible that new applications can interact with those that already exist and that systems developed on different platforms are compatible. Webservices are components that allow applications to send and receive data. Each application can have its own "language", which is translated into a universal language, an intermediate format such as XML, Json, CSV, etc.

_{Source: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_service}

I recommend reading this question and answers:

• What is a Web Service?

Creating a webservice

Having understood what REST is, understand that it will run on your web server, I come to assume that your server uses PHP or ASP.NET:

• PHP

  If the case is PHP and you don’t have enough knowledge to develop the application from scratch or still need to quickly deliver this webservice, recommend using a framework, follow a list of frameworks that support creating REST application:

  1. Laravel (Supports multiple libraries and authentication)

  2. Slim (Supports Crypto and Session)

     An example with Slim: How to create a REST service with PHP and Mysql and . htaccess

• ASP.NET

  With ASP.NET you can quickly develop a REST application, in ASP.NET its name is Web API (the programming language is your choice c# or VB.NET).

  Learn a little about web api here: http://www.asp.net/web-api

Note that this data passed by the webservice is not in SQL format but in Json or XML format, which are file formats that you customize yourself.

Client side

On the client side you will have to create a Desktop software that accesses the webservice you previously created and download the data then populating the Firebird database. For this you will have to develop a software only to access the webservice, download the data and popular the local database.

To develop this software you have the option to use:

• c++ (For example with Visualstudio you can make it easy on this, it has version Community and is widely used, containing excellent documentation)
• java (Java not only creates apps for Android but can also develop desktop applications)
• paschal Delphi or Lazarus, in the case Delphi is a widely used IDE on Windows that facilitates Desktop development, as an alternative you have Lazarus, which can also be used on Linux.

_{(Correct me if I gave you any wrong information about Delphi or Pascal, that’s not my strong suit)}

Completion

As I said at the beginning, there is nothing ready that works for each specific case, you will have to develop both environments, however do not be afraid, this type of development is more common than you imagine nowadays.