sub get_db_stuff {
    my ($filename) = @_;
    open F, $filename or die "Can't read $filename $!\n";
    my $data = <F>;
    close F;
    # this split allows comma, tab or space separated data
    # but of course precludes spaces in the names
    my ($db,$user,$pass) = split /[,\s]+/, $data;
    die "Invalid $data in $filename!\n" unless $db and $user and $pass;
  return ($db,$user,$pass);
}