Andreas Gohr has posted about a script he's created to act as a simple replacement for the PHP/MySQL database tool phpMyAdmin - what he calls MySimple.php.

Kaddi needed to fix something in her employer's database today. Unfortunately she had FTP access only. So the database change had to be made through a PHP script. [...] I looked for a basic MySQL PHP interface but couldn't find one. So I quickly wrote it my self.

He has a screenshot of the app in action included and you can grab the code from his wiki.

Richard Thomas reports on the latest functionality to be implemented with his jQPie framework - Ext support.

I had planned on building some extra functionality into jQPie to fit certain needs but after playing with Ext and its jQuery support all my needs have been met. A basic example of the paging/data grid module running off php, works pretty nice. http://projects.cyberlot.net/jqpie/examples/paging.html

The jQPie project provides a lightweight interface to iQuery. Check out some examples of what it can do on its wiki page.

On the ThinkPHP blog today, bjoern has posted some of his opinions about Scrum, a programming methodology, and its use in the PHP world.

You may have heard about Agile Programming, eXtreme Programming and the like. I want to introduce to you Scrum, which is "an agile, lightweight process that can be used to manage and control software and product development using iterative, incremental practices.". Not only big companies are using this toolset, but also some smaller ones, including us at Mayflower GmbH.

He lists out some of the main attributes that Scrum is defined by, including:

• Scrum is a wrapper for existing engineering practices.
• Scrum is a process that controls the chaos of conflicting interests and needs.
• Scrum is a way to maximize productivity.
• Scrum is a way for everyone to feel good about their job, their contributions, and that they have done the very best they possibly could.

He's also given a workshop on the subject, and you can find the PDF slides here.