The best place to get started is the new user manual. It provides a guide to the example programs and more.
In MySQL++, the main user-facing classes are mysqlpp::Connection, mysqlpp::Query, mysqlpp::Result, and mysqlpp::Row.
In addition, MySQL++ has a mechanism called Specialized SQL Structures (SSQLS), which allow you to create C++ structures that parallel the definition of the tables in your database schema. These let you manipulate the data in your database using native C++ data structures. Programs using this feature often include very little SQL code, because MySQL++ can generate most of what you need automatically when using SSQLSes. There is a whole chapter in the user manual on how to use this feature of the library, plus a section in the user manual's tutorial chapter to introduce it. It's possible to use MySQL++ effectively without using SSQLS, but it sure makes some things a lot easier.
The only two header files your program ever needs to include are mysql++.h, and optionally custom.h. (The latter implements the SSQLS mechanism.) All of the other files are used within the library only.
By the way, if, when installing this package, you didn't put the headers into their own subdirectory, you might consider reinstalling the package to remedy that. MySQL++ has a number of generically-named files (convert.h, fields.h, row.h...), so it's best to put them into a separate directory where they can't interfere with other code on your system. If you're on a Unixy platform, you do this by passing the --includedir
option to the configure
script. See the package's main README file for details.
If you want to email someone to ask questions about this library, we greatly prefer that you send mail to the MySQL++ mailing list, which you can subscribe to here: http://lists.mysql.com/plusplus
That mailing list is archived, so if you have questions, do a search to see if the question has been asked before.
You may find people's individual email addresses in various files within the MySQL++ distribution. Please do not send mail to them unless you are sending something that is inherently personal. Questions that are about MySQL++ usage may well be ignored if you send them to our personal email accounts. Those of us still active in MySQL++ development monitor the mailing list, so you aren't getting any extra "coverage" by sending messages to those addresses in addition to the mailing list.
MySQL++ is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which you should have received with the distribution package in a file called "LGPL" or "LICENSE". You can also view it here: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html or receive a copy by writing to Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.