Thread:Project:Support desk/For *computer-novices*: Access denied for user 'user'@'localhost' (using password: YES)/reply (10)

The MySQL setup problems are actually so bad, they are the major barrier to recommending mediawiki to any project that would otherwise use some awful proprietary wiki. If a user runs into a problem at this level, there is no way to talk them through it. You might get thm as far as "sudo apt-get install phpMyAdmin" but forget it if phpMyadmin doesn't execute as a command in their default path (for whatever reason).

Accordingly it is time that the installation instructions explained in simple terms how to compile PHP with PostgreSQL support so that this can be used if there is any problem with MySQL. The odds of a good experience using PostgreSQL is higher than the odds of managing to fix any broken MySQL with an inexperienced user at the shell prompt. If not, well, fix it. In the long run PostgreSQL is more robust than MySQL for most purposes and a more likely basis for a hands-free installer. If you disagree, how about implementing flat-file storage, which tikiwiki has had for a very long time?