Big Data and SQL

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Big Data and SQL

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krowley Ten Centuries Points: 1344 More actions · Answer 1

It sounds as though everyone is in accord; there are too many IT professionals who do not understand enough about SQL. Far too many developers and, perhaps even worse, some DBAs/SQL Developers do not understand the principles (and theories) and the effects of what they are trying to apply in practice.
Of course everyone here is trying to ensure that they do not fall into this category 😉

I still think this might be because it is hard to find a comprehensive standard set of training materials for this topic. I know there is a LOT of info on SQL, on this site and many other sites out there, and this can actually make studying this topic overwhelming. Where does one start? What I would love would be a set of free online tutorials that would take a person from beginner to advanced in an orderly progression. I would even be willing to pay for a book that would do this if I knew which one to buy.

Any recommendations?

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125562 More actions · Answer 2

Steve Jones - Editor (9/21/2010)
david_wendelken (9/21/2010)
Half of all people are dumber than average.
Half of all people are lazier than average.
Lazy or dumb people can't learn to do SQL properly.
Does that mean 1/2 of all people or 1/4 of all people can learn to do SQL properly? :hehe::-P

Let's first get 1/2 of the public to balance their household budgets and count calories, and then we can maybe move on to SQL. 😉

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Nevyn SSChampion Points: 14210 More actions · Answer 3

david_wendelken (9/21/2010)
Eric Russell 13013 (9/21/2010)
I hope society never advances to the point where an understanding of relational set theory by the average person is required just to get by; most of our parents barely know how to boot up their PC and send an email. SQL is kind of like poetry or gourmet cooking, I guess anyone can learn the basics of how to do it, but only an elite few of us will ever produce something that's actually worth a damn.
Half of all people are dumber than average.
Half of all people are lazier than average.
Lazy or dumb people can't learn to do SQL properly.
Or much of anything else, for that matter, other than keep up with the Kardashians and their ilk.

Not true, lazy people can totally learn proper SQL.

Just , you know, um, later.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736478 More actions · Answer 4

Nevyn (9/21/2010)
david_wendelken (9/21/2010)
Eric Russell 13013 (9/21/2010)
I hope society never advances to the point where an understanding of relational set theory by the average person is required just to get by; most of our parents barely know how to boot up their PC and send an email. SQL is kind of like poetry or gourmet cooking, I guess anyone can learn the basics of how to do it, but only an elite few of us will ever produce something that's actually worth a damn.
Half of all people are dumber than average.
Half of all people are lazier than average.
Lazy or dumb people can't learn to do SQL properly.
Or much of anything else, for that matter, other than keep up with the Kardashians and their ilk.
Not true, lazy people can totally learn proper SQL.
Just , you know, um, later.

So lazy people are eventually capable?

Nevyn SSChampion Points: 14210 More actions · Answer 5

Steve Jones - Editor (9/21/2010)
So lazy people are eventually capable?

Yeah, its TOTALLY on their to-do list.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125562 More actions · Answer 6

Nevyn (9/21/2010)
Not true, lazy people can totally learn proper SQL.
Just , you know, um, later.

Hey, all the developer needs to do is make sure his SQL basically gets the point across.

It's the DBA's job to refactor, optimize, and comment it. 😉

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Evil Kraig F SSC Guru Points: 100851 More actions · Answer 7

Eric Russell 13013 (9/21/2010)
Nevyn (9/21/2010)
Not true, lazy people can totally learn proper SQL.
Just , you know, um, later.
Hey, all the developer needs to do is make sure his SQL basically gets the point across.
It's the DBA's job to refactor, optimize, and comment it. 😉

Select

um... some of that client stuff, and add the total of post count

FROM

The client tables... use the usage ones too for the post count

WHERE

errr...um... they're a client?

- Craig Farrell

Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
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Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 8

Steve Jones - Editor (9/21/2010)
david_wendelken (9/21/2010)
Half of all people are dumber than average.
Half of all people are lazier than average.
Lazy or dumb people can't learn to do SQL properly.
Does that mean 1/2 of all people or 1/4 of all people can learn to do SQL properly? :hehe::-P

It does mean that if no dumb people are lazy then no-one can learn to do SQL properly...

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

david_wendelken SSCrazy Points: 2388 More actions · Answer 9

Craig Farrell (9/21/2010)
Eric Russell 13013 (9/21/2010)
Nevyn (9/21/2010)
Not true, lazy people can totally learn proper SQL.
Just , you know, um, later.
Hey, all the developer needs to do is make sure his SQL basically gets the point across.
It's the DBA's job to refactor, optimize, and comment it. 😉
Select
um... some of that client stuff, and add the total of post count
FROM
The client tables... use the usage ones too for the post count
WHERE
errr...um... they're a client?

I have to point out that the above code specification is a major improvement over many that I haven't received...

david_wendelken SSCrazy Points: 2388 More actions · Answer 10

krowley (9/21/2010)
It sounds as though everyone is in accord; there are too many IT professionals who do not understand enough about SQL. Far too many developers and, perhaps even worse, some DBAs/SQL Developers do not understand the principles (and theories) and the effects of what they are trying to apply in practice.
Of course everyone here is trying to ensure that they do not fall into this category 😉
I still think this might be because it is hard to find a comprehensive standard set of training materials for this topic. I know there is a LOT of info on SQL, on this site and many other sites out there, and this can actually make studying this topic overwhelming. Where does one start? What I would love would be a set of free online tutorials that would take a person from beginner to advanced in an orderly progression. I would even be willing to pay for a book that would do this if I knew which one to buy.
Any recommendations?

I picked up a very thin book called Essential SQL some years ago. I've loaned it out and don't remember the author's name (or who I loaned it to, drat it!). Maybe someone else will recall the particulars. It's the single best explanation of how to write a query I've ever found. Brilliant book!

david_wendelken SSCrazy Points: 2388 More actions · Answer 11

Remembered who had the book.

"The Essence of SQL: A Guide to Learning the Most of SQL in the Least Amount of Time" by David Rozenshtein.

krowley Ten Centuries Points: 1344 More actions · Answer 12

david_wendelken (9/22/2010)
Remembered who had the book.
"The Essence of SQL: A Guide to Learning the Most of SQL in the Least Amount of Time" by David Rozenshtein.

Thank you. I will look it up.

david_wendelken SSCrazy Points: 2388 More actions · Answer 13

Steve Jones - Editor (9/21/2010)
david_wendelken (9/21/2010)
Half of all people are dumber than average.
Half of all people are lazier than average.
Lazy or dumb people can't learn to do SQL properly.
Does that mean 1/2 of all people or 1/4 of all people can learn to do SQL properly? :hehe::-P

Here's what it means:

A colleague of mine was on the phone yesterday, trying to get a customer service rep to do a task. He explained what he wanted, over and over, in different ways, and the rep just couldn't get it. He was pretty annoyed.

I explained to him that half of all people are dumber than average. He had two choices. He could deal with them in their place of employment; or he could work to pay taxes to pay for them to be on welfare.

In other words, you just have to plan for the fact that lazy and dumb people exist and will interfere with grand vision that you have. They won't ever go away, so plan for their participation.

Charles Kincaid SSChampion Points: 13593 More actions · Answer 14

krowley (9/22/2010)
david_wendelken (9/22/2010)
Remembered who had the book.
"The Essence of SQL: A Guide to Learning the Most of SQL in the Least Amount of Time" by David Rozenshtein.
Thank you. I will look it up.

I tried. Copied the quoted title into my Google search and what popped up? Your post!

Hey David, you got an ISBN on that book there buddy? You can't be roaring down the SQL highway with an unlicensed and unregistered book.

ATBCharles Kincaid

krowley Ten Centuries Points: 1344 More actions · Answer 15

Try googleing without the quotes around the book title.

Here is the amazon link.

http://www.amazon.com/Essence-SQL-Guide-Learning-Amount/dp/0964981211