Query Twitter Data as a MySQL Database in Node.js



Execute MySQL queries against Twitter data from Node.js.

You can use the SQL Gateway from the ODBC Driver for Twitter to query Twitter data through a MySQL interface. Follow the procedure below to start the MySQL remoting service of the SQL Gateway and start querying using Node.js.

Connect to Twitter Data

If you have not already done so, provide values for the required connection properties in the data source name (DSN). You can use the built-in Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to configure the DSN. This is also the last step of the driver installation. See the "Getting Started" chapter in the help documentation for a guide to using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure a DSN.

All tables require authentication. You can connect using your User and Password or OAuth. To authenticate using OAuth, you can use the embedded OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL or you can register an app to obtain your own.

If you intend to communicate with Twitter only as the currently authenticated user, then you can obtain the OAuthAccessToken and OAuthAccessTokenSecret directly by registering an app.

See the Getting Started chapter in the help documentation for a guide to using OAuth.

Configure the SQL Gateway

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up connectivity to Twitter data as a virtual MySQL database. You will configure a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients. The service can be configured in the SQL Gateway UI.

Creating a MySQL Remoting Service in SQL Gateway (Salesforce is shown)

Query Twitter from Node.js

The following example shows how to define a connection and execute queries to Twitter with the mysql module. You will need the following information:

  • Host name or address, and port: The machine and port where the MySQL remoting service is listening for MySQL connections.
  • Username and password: The username and password of a user you authorized on the Users tab of the SQL Gateway.
  • Database name: The DSN you configured for the MySQL remoting service.

Connect to Twitter data and start executing queries with the code below:

var mysql      = require('mysql');
var connection = mysql.createConnection({
  host     : 'localhost',
  database : 'CData Twitter Sys',
  port	   : '3306',
  user     : 'mysql_user',
  password : 'test'
});
connection.connect();
connection.query('SELECT * FROM Tweets', function(err, rows, fields) {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(rows);
});

connection.end();

Ready to get started?

Download a free trial of the Twitter ODBC Driver to get started:

 Download Now

Learn more:

Twitter Icon Twitter ODBC Driver

The Twitter ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live data from Twitter, directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.

With the Twitter ODBC Driver accessing live Tweets, Followers, Messages, Searches, etc. is as easy as querying a database.