about Sybase

  • I believe this site has many veterans who have Sybase background.  How do you think about Sybase?  Does sybase DBA still have future considering the marketing share?  Is it worth to deep into it or stay away from it?

  • I believe, there is a scope for sybase person...there r so many old applications which are running on sybase. I remembered, I went to interview for a defence project. The database was sybase over there.

  • If it was ever made and sold, then DoD uses it. That's not proof of popularity. The core questions, it seems to me, are:

    1. How many installations still use Sybase?

    2. How many of these installations expect to still be using Sybase in 3 years?

    3. If I focus on Sybase, and I miss my market, what's my fallback?

    With SS2k+ becoming more and more complex, there is an opportunity to do more within the database itself rather than relying on applications or 3rd party products. This raises the learning curve for new people entering into the SS2k+ arena. But platform choices are usually inherited, and difficult to change. Which means that if the current shop is NOT a SS house, and the legacy product is still being maintained, there needs to be a good reason to switch (which is why I would expect fewer and fewer Sybase houses still standing would switch away). Plus, with the increase in cost to get a Vista license, plus the need for MS to keep everything tightly interrelated yet compatible with other products for GUI-data input / report display purposes, the economics of shifting into or staying in MS product line will be painful. So, knowing a non-MS product may have a strong appeal.

    Some companies insisted on being all IBM, back in the days of mainframes, because they felt it was easier having a single vendor. Then IBM missed the future of the PC, and now HP is one of the 500 pound gorillas in the PC marketplace, not IBM. Some shops love HP, some love Dell, and it varies with their experience, their management team, etc etc etc. Being able to know the core concepts behind DBA (or whatever field you choose), and being flexible in the use of tools and platforms is key to long-term survival on the job.

    It may simply come down to a very easy question: what's your favorite flavor (of ice cream, computer, DBMS, whatever). And season to taste.

  • If you're planning on (or willing to be) mobile, then learning multiple databases may be the way to go. Like all generalists, you often won't be as in-depth as someone who 'went deep' on one product, but you'll be able to find more opportunities whereever and whenever you are looking for a new place. And frankly, much of the DBA's work is common between database products, so there's a lot of overlap.

    Also, having a broad range of knowlege about how several products work can be a real benefit when doing initial design and project scoping. Perspective is a wonderful thing!

    Steve G.

  • Good comments.  Thank you all for your input.  I used Sybase before and think it is a good product.  Just want to hear more people's different opinions. 

     

     

     

     

     

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply