querying and posting to mysql from php. Serialize array and save it to database or create about 15 different columns?

Question

The data will consist of 1 or 2 digit numbers and I can either make a (to my experience) a hectic looking database full of all the primary data plus these extra 15 columns or I could use the serialization function on the array which I'm already going to be keeping these numbers to save room and tidy up the database.

Questions you may have:

• Every query that changes one of these numbers will affect the rest of them.

• I am using php right now along with possibly javascript and ajax, however I will eventually rewrite the project fully or partially in python and or C. So that serialization function may make things a bit sticky there...

• The information in the database is going to be read and written to by 2 individuals using separate internet connections.

If you need an example it would play out as follows:

row in database is created by php. 
user_1 && user_2 read. 
user_1 writes. 
user_1 && user_2 read. 
user_2 writes. 
user_1 && user_2 read. 

And so on... next user_1 would write again.

So if anyone could please give me any assistance.. I am majorly concerned about whether mysql is the best choice for this project; it is basically my only free option. And to serialize or not to serialize..? (given my personal situation).

Thank you all so much in advanced.

Answer 1

PostgreSQL has great array support. You make an column that is an array of integer