Is there a "Northwind" type database available for MySQL?

Finding a 'Northwind' Equivalent for MySQL: Sample Databases for Learning and Testing

Explore various options for a 'Northwind'-like sample database in MySQL, including official ports, community projects, and how to create your own for development and testing purposes.

The Northwind database is a classic sample database provided by Microsoft, widely used for learning SQL, database design, and application development. It represents a fictional company's sales data, including customers, orders, products, employees, and suppliers. While Northwind is inherently tied to Microsoft SQL Server and Access, developers often seek a similar, readily available sample database for MySQL environments. This article explores the best options for getting a 'Northwind' type database up and running in MySQL.

Why a Sample Database is Essential

Sample databases like Northwind are invaluable tools for developers, students, and data analysts. They provide a realistic yet manageable dataset to practice SQL queries, test application features, develop reports, and demonstrate concepts without the risk of corrupting production data. For MySQL users, having a familiar schema with diverse data types and relationships accelerates the learning curve and streamlines development workflows.

Official and Community Northwind Ports for MySQL

While there isn't an 'official' Northwind database from Oracle (MySQL's parent company), the community has created several excellent ports. These ports typically replicate the original Northwind schema and data, making them highly compatible for those familiar with the original. The most common approach involves SQL scripts that create tables and populate them with data.

erDiagram
    CUSTOMER ||--o{ ORDER : places
    EMPLOYEE ||--o{ ORDER : handles
    ORDER ||--o{ ORDER_DETAIL : contains
    PRODUCT ||--o{ ORDER_DETAIL : includes
    SUPPLIER ||--o{ PRODUCT : supplies
    CATEGORY ||--o{ PRODUCT : belongs_to

    CUSTOMER {
        int CustomerID PK
        varchar CompanyName
        varchar ContactName
        varchar ContactTitle
        varchar Address
        varchar City
        varchar Region
        varchar PostalCode
        varchar Country
        varchar Phone
        varchar Fax
    }
    ORDER {
        int OrderID PK
        int CustomerID FK
        int EmployeeID FK
        date OrderDate
        date RequiredDate
        date ShippedDate
        int ShipVia
        decimal Freight
        varchar ShipName
        varchar ShipAddress
        varchar ShipCity
        varchar ShipRegion
        varchar ShipPostalCode
        varchar ShipCountry
    }
    EMPLOYEE {
        int EmployeeID PK
        varchar LastName
        varchar FirstName
        varchar Title
        varchar TitleOfCourtesy
        date BirthDate
        date HireDate
        varchar Address
        varchar City
        varchar Region
        varchar PostalCode
        varchar Country
        varchar HomePhone
        varchar Extension
        text Notes
        int ReportsTo FK
    }
    PRODUCT {
        int ProductID PK
        varchar ProductName
        int SupplierID FK
        int CategoryID FK
        varchar QuantityPerUnit
        decimal UnitPrice
        int UnitsInStock
        int UnitsOnOrder
        int ReorderLevel
        boolean Discontinued
    }
    ORDER_DETAIL {
        int OrderID PK,FK
        int ProductID PK,FK
        decimal UnitPrice
        int Quantity
        float Discount
    }
    SUPPLIER {
        int SupplierID PK
        varchar CompanyName
        varchar ContactName
        varchar ContactTitle
        varchar Address
        varchar City
        varchar Region
        varchar PostalCode
        varchar Country
        varchar Phone
        varchar Fax
        text HomePage
    }
    CATEGORY {
        int CategoryID PK
        varchar CategoryName
        text Description
        blob Picture
    }

Simplified Entity-Relationship Diagram of the Northwind Database Schema

One popular and well-maintained port is available on GitHub, often referred to as 'northwind-mysql'. This project provides a comprehensive set of SQL scripts to create the tables, define relationships, and insert all the sample data. It's usually the go-to choice for developers looking for a direct Northwind equivalent.

Installing a Northwind-like Database in MySQL

The installation process typically involves downloading the SQL scripts and executing them against your MySQL server. You'll need a MySQL client (like MySQL Workbench, the command-line client, or phpMyAdmin) to perform these steps. Ensure you have appropriate permissions to create databases and tables.

-- Create the database
CREATE DATABASE northwind;

-- Use the newly created database
USE northwind;

-- Source the schema and data scripts
-- Assuming 'northwind-schema.sql' creates tables
SOURCE /path/to/your/downloaded/northwind-schema.sql;

-- Assuming 'northwind-data.sql' populates data
SOURCE /path/to/your/downloaded/northwind-data.sql;

Example SQL commands to install the Northwind database

Alternative Sample Databases for MySQL

If a direct Northwind port isn't exactly what you need, or if you're looking for something different, MySQL offers other excellent sample databases:

1. Sakila Database: This is an official MySQL sample database representing a DVD rental store. It's well-designed, includes stored procedures, views, and triggers, making it great for advanced SQL practice and ORM testing.
2. World Database: Another official MySQL sample, this database contains geographical data about countries, cities, and languages. It's simpler than Sakila but useful for basic joins and data retrieval.
3. Employees Database: A large, realistic dataset containing information about employees, departments, salaries, and titles. It's excellent for performance testing and working with larger datasets.

These alternatives provide similar benefits to Northwind, offering diverse schemas and data for various learning and testing scenarios.

1. Download the SQL Scripts

Visit a reputable GitHub repository (e.g., https://github.com/dalers/my-northwind) and download the northwind.sql or separate schema and data files.

2. Access MySQL Client

Open your preferred MySQL client (MySQL Workbench, command line, DBeaver, etc.) and connect to your MySQL server.

3. Execute the Scripts

Run the SQL commands to create the database and populate it with data. For the command line, navigate to the directory where you saved the .sql file and use mysql -u your_user -p < northwind.sql (after creating the database and using it, or if the script includes CREATE DATABASE and USE statements).

4. Verify Installation

Once the scripts complete, run a simple query like SELECT * FROM Customers LIMIT 5; to ensure the tables and data are present.