Do I store the usernames in an array lisst and pictures inb and array list and then somehow match them together to allow the user a succesful login>?

Storage of the list of Username vs ID most probably has to be done persistantly. I would recommend not to use DB if this is the only reason you want to use it. Rather go for a simple flat/txt file would be easier.

That requires that you load the entire list while running, or that you write your own search routines to search for the user/id combination.

With a DB you simply set of a query with the username as the search string and return the "id".

No fuss, no muss. No loading the entire list into main memory, and no self-rigged search routines. And storing new user/id combos is just as easy as finding one. A single statement, and you're done.

And this includes the possibility of a new user attempting to use the same name as a current user, when the username is the primary key, as the insert will fail with a primary key validation. With that, you no longer even have to check yourself whether a new username exists or not. Simply try to add it.

True but I feel that would be easier !


As someone quoted earlier you've deceptively missed a few other things:
1. Installation of DB?
2. Creation of DB table?
3. Code to create the DB connection?
4. Readup how to do step 1, 2 and 3 or ask someone???
I sure agree that once you're done with all this you'll "simply set of a query with the username as the search string and return the id".


Here is the fuss/muss we'll have to do if we use flat file (see the code at end). Self-regged search routines? std::map gives it. map::find().
Abt the "single stmt and you're done part" as I said earlier, it's not really true.


See the return type of std::map::insert(). It does this for you. Again you don't write no code.

C++ Syntax (Toggle Plain Text)

#define MAX_LINE_LEN 100
 
int main()
{
    FILE * pFile = fopen ("user_info.txt", "w+");
    if( ! pFile )
    {
        cout << "Could not open file" << endl ;
        return 1 ;
    }
 
    for( int i = 0; i < 10; i++ )
    {
        char dummy[50] ;
        itoa(i, dummy, 10) ;
        fprintf (pFile, "%s %d\n", dummy, i);
    }
 
    rewind (pFile);
 
    map< string, int > usrInfMap ;
    char str [80];
    int j;
    while( EOF != fscanf (pFile, "%s %d", str, &j) )
    {
        usrInfMap[str] = j ;
    };
 
    fclose (pFile);
 
    map< string, int >::iterator it = usrInfMap.begin();
    for( ; it != usrInfMap.end(); it++ )
        cout << it->first.c_str() << " = " << it->second << endl ;
 
    return 0;
}

#define MAX_LINE_LEN 100 int main() { FILE * pFile = fopen ("user_info.txt", "w+"); if( ! pFile ) { cout << "Could not open file" << endl ; return 1 ; } for( int i = 0; i < 10; i++ ) { char dummy[50] ; itoa(i, dummy, 10) ; fprintf (pFile, "%s %d\n", dummy, i); } rewind (pFile); map< string, int > usrInfMap ; char str [80]; int j; while( EOF != fscanf (pFile, "%s %d", str, &j) ) { usrInfMap[str] = j ; }; fclose (pFile); map< string, int >::iterator it = usrInfMap.begin(); for( ; it != usrInfMap.end(); it++ ) cout << it->first.c_str() << " = " << it->second << endl ; return 0; }

Now finally remember that I said earlier:
I would recommend not to use DB if this is the only reason you want to use it (=>DB).