MySQL root password change

Timestamps in MySQL are generally used to track changes to records, and are often updated every time the record is changed. If you want to store a specific value you should use a datetime field.

If you meant that you want to decide between using a UNIX timestamp or a native MySQL datetime field, go with the native format. You can do calculations within MySQL that way ("SELECT DATE_ADD(my_datetime, INTERVAL 1 DAY)") and it is simple to change the format of the value to a UNIX timestamp ("SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(my_datetime)") when you query the record if you want to operate on it with PHP.

I think one can end up in this position with older versions of mysql already installed. I had the same problem and none of the above solutions worked for me. I fixed it thus:

Used brew's remove & cleanup commands, unloaded the launchctl script, then deleted the mysql directory in /usr/local/var, deleted my existing /etc/my.cnf (leave that one up to you, should it apply) and launchctl plist

Updated the string for the plist. Note also your alternate security script directory will be based on which version of MySQL you are installing.

Step-by-step:

brew remove mysql

brew cleanup

launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist

rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist

sudo rm -rf /usr/local/var/mysql

I then started from scratch:

1. installed mysql with brew install mysql

2. ran the commands brew suggested: (see note: below)

   unset TMPDIR
   
   mysql_install_db --verbose --user=`whoami` --basedir="$(brew --prefix mysql)" --datadir=/usr/local/var/mysql --tmpdir=/tmp
   

3. Start mysql with mysql.server start command, to be able to log on it

4. Used the alternate security script:

   /usr/local/Cellar/mysql/5.5.10/bin/mysql_secure_installation
   

5. Followed the launchctl section from the brew package script output such as,

   #start
   launchctl load -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist
   
   #stop
   launchctl unload -w ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mysql.plist
   

Note: the --force bit on brew cleanup will also cleanup outdated kegs, think it's a new-ish homebrew feature.

Note the second: a commenter says step 2 is not required. I don't want to test it, so YMMV!