Working from your own machine.
WHAT THEY ARE
Applications that connect to a database and provide a richer interface than phpMyAdmin.
WHY USE ONE
Better query editing, with history and syntax help Easier browsing of large tables Comparison and synchronisation features Working across several databases
CONNECTING
Two options: remote MySQL access, or an SSH tunnel.
REMOTE ACCESS
cPanel > Remote MySQL, adding your IP address. Then connect using your domain as the host.
This exposes the database to the internet, restricted to the addresses you list.
Add specific addresses, never a wildcard, and remove them when finished.
THE SSH TUNNEL
Preferable. The database stays closed to the internet and the connection travels inside SSH.
Most desktop tools support this directly: supply the SSH details alongside the database details.
THE PRACTICAL POSITION
For occasional work, phpMyAdmin is adequate and requires no setup.
For sustained development work against a database, a desktop tool with an SSH tunnel is worth configuring.
