SQL

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I'm taking a database design/SQL course for my bachelor's. We had to give presentations to the class tonight on our final projects.
Most people in the class seemed to have difficulty grasping the concepts and did a small database in the range of 4 to 7 tables.
I did my own thing and had no clue what anybody else was doing...I did 20 tables in 3NF. Everybody including the instructor were shocked.
Until then I hadn't realized I wasn't in the middle of the pack. I suppose it's an Aspie giftedness for once, seeing the trees instead of the forest is an advantage.

Does anyone work in database administration or development? Is it a good field? I see job postings all the time with very good salary range.
Are there good books or other training resources you'd recommend?

Tori -
SQL - (structured query language) is quite robust and a wonderful job opportunity. There are many opportunities available, to one with SQL skills. The *most predominant* career is SQL Developer. They are paid very well.

SQL has a lot of moving parts, commands, opportunities to look at and present the data.

Now, as you know a little bit about it, there are 4 popular products to proceed on:
1) My Sql - most affordable, but not quite as robust.
2) MS SQL - not really affordable, but you can get a developement copy / license for *real* cheap, and it will run on a desktop (instead of only an approved version of MS Server OS)
3) IBM UDB (db2) - not sure what version this is. Likely you could download for free, but knowing IBM, expect 'cripple ware' and 'time out' ware.
4) Oracle - also free, (you can download from Oracle website for free, and use for 30 days. (at which time you should 're-install' according to the license, but there are no license keys, nothing will disable or not work, and you can get the same code real business use. (don't do oracle on windows. please. Just because something can be done, doesn't mean it's a good idea. Use vm-player if you have to, and install Oracle Enterprise Linux. You can get that for free too. )

Feel free to contact me directly for more information. I love to help give you more information.

Oh, the other item I thought I'd mention, is another opportunity: Database Administrator. The developers write the code, the DBA applies it, manages growth, performance, backup/recovery, migrations, business continuity, etc... Thats what I do, or at least tell my boss that's what I do. Last labor estimates state a significant shortage in database administrators over the next couple years. (Assuming immigration reform doesn't open H1-B floodgates on us.)

I have been a database administrator for about 16 years now. Mostly Oracle, although I will play with MySql. Did a little DB2, don't anymore, mostly because I don't have to.

Best wishes, and welcome to the game...

dmdunyan
Oracle Master, OCP, OCE, SCMDBA

Interesting. I should be taking SQL in the Fall.

I prefer Postges. It is free (both senses of the word), robust, fast, and featureful. I have used it layered with triggers and stored procedures, PHP and client-side AJAX. Works wonders.

One of my obsessions for a while was converting real world problems into domain models then into active databases. Did some cool projects including Voter contact database for a civic campaign (full system implementation in a week) and an order management system for a comic book shop (a REALLY hairy use case).

There are lots of postings for database developers, but sadly few in my small city. Plus it's been so long since I've been actively working on it. And they seem to insist on actually having a degree. So get your degree finished.

Another one to check out that's hot right now is SQLite... Used for client side stuff esp. on iOS and Android. Sounds like fun.

Thanks for the responses! I'm getting excited about this possible career path. Ever since I took my first VB class a year ago I knew I wanted to go more toward programming. Working with databases sounds pretty solid because I'm getting the impression that most NTs don't want to do it. They want to design cool apps or something else slick and not work with "boring" old database stuff. I think what makes this different is that this is actually reverse engineering. I just spent a lot of time breaking down business processes while other types of programming is building up.

We've been using MySQL in class. I'll be taking more SQL in the fall and web programming which I believe will be using php.
I was already thinking I needed to learn C# so there's another confirmation. I'll probably learn that on my own.
I only have two more semesters so I definitely plan on finishing my degree. I think having a bachelors is pretty much a must have from all the job listings I've read.

I'm going for an Associates Degree, but I'm also going to try and get CompTIA Certifications.

You can download MS SQL Server Express for free from Microsoft. You get the Management Studio with it and I find that a very good tool for creating databases and also stored procedures, functions, triggers etc.

I also like PostgreSQL. Make sure you know how to use common table expressions and window functions. I have a knack for SQL and data models and can write SQL very well. It's my mutant aspie power.

If you want to make the big money, become a DBA or start getting certified in various aspects of Oracle. Its possible to make huge money if you've got advanced knowledge or Oracle. And specific things to learn that will help get a high paying job would include data warehousing. Even if you don't become a database developer or a DBA, there's lots of jobs where SQL is a valuable or required skill, including most programming related jobs.