Software
I want to learn database prog, but don;t know where to start ? which one is right,or which is the most popular or demanding in the market.
I want a database programming that can be interact with web form, or I could creating Sales Inventory system and sell to some retail shop.
Please advise.
Database as in SQL, or database as in interacting with one.
Whether you do it web based, via an environment like access or through a straight code, makes no real difference. Once you get the idea of how to interact with the database, the trade offs between implementing the functionality at the differnent layers of the system, it really doesn't matter.
Select * From Customers Where Customer_ID=1, really doesn't care where or how it's executed from.
As for demand, small web based database apps are going to be split between PHP on LAMP servers and ASP.NET on windows ones. In terms of devloping an application, the similarities far outweigh the differences.
It's important to note though, to execute the sort of task you've set yourself, you'll need os knowledge, basic web skills, webserver admin and database dsign/admin skills as well as your chosen programming environment. Familiarity with client server models, and database design will come in damn handy as well.
So what route you choose in terms of learning depends on where you are now.
by jamesnkk
Tony, thank so much for your advise, seem like there are so many things I have to learn. Should I kick off with asp.net or asp.net ver 2.0 ?
Do you have any recommendation - books or websites that good for beginner ?
by jaqui
the actual database engine isn't really important.
learn sql ( Structured Query Language ) as that is a cross platform tool.
lamp works for windows as well, as apache, mysql and php all run on windows machines.
asp.net can be used on linux, as apache has an asp.net module.
learning the basics of db design, the sql, and whichever language you choose to use for higher level scripting can actually be concidered cross platform scripting.
by far the most usefull system to learn is lamp. the difference between linux and windows as host os for apache/mysql/php is zero from the web scripting point of view.
learning asp.net is a buzz for companies right now, and learning the asp.net language/framework will help also.
by jamesnkk
is something I haven't done. Old fashioned ASP, a bit, PHP a bit. Get the latest version.
Start with web tutorials before you buy books and courses just hit google for asp.net tutorial or php.
There all much of a much ness anyway.
Create an obect, log on to the database, pass in a query. access the results and write them on to the page.
I noticed your response to Jacqui. Learn SQl don't worry about whose, there are some differences between the various vendor implementtions, but these are vendor specific addons. Select, Update, Insert and Delete are the same every where. Even those vendors who foolish twiddle with the syntax implement the SQL-92 standard.
If you've got a windows box. Get IIS, MSQL (DE), going for the windows side. PHP, PostGre/MySQL. Even set up linux on a separte partition.
Then go from the basics. Puting up a page, getiing a parameter off the user. Secure sign in. Use of cookies etc to preseve state. Fun ones like disoplaying a table of data 30 records at a time are always good exercises. Saving the query as a file on the loca machine for imp[ort into excel or some such. Once you've got a tool box of techniques and building blocks in these two flavours you are pretty much set. The mechanics of doing web based db apps do not change between platforms. Alll you have to do is transalte and then maybe tweak.
If you are not familiar with sql. Get MSQLDE, Access, or MySQL. Don't use the silly gui stuff, though, dive straight into raw SQL. It takes a long time for the learning curve to start getting steep with these technologies, they are designed for a quick return/high production.
It's nowhere near as difficult as people would have you believe. In fact most problems people run in to are the result of design contraints or poor choices.
LAMP is
Linux using Apache, MySQL and PHP
LAPP is
using Apache, PostGreSQL and PHP.
WIMP using Windows, IIS, MySQL and PHP
Tee Hee
LAMP & LAPP are very popular, but you'll need to pick up Linux/apache to be taken seriously in the market.
That's not difficult either as long as you remember it does not work like windows becuase it isn't windows.
by jaqui
not sql
sql is the language you must use to create any queries.
asp is a second language.
php is a different language.
neither are sql, yet both are used with sql.
by jaqui
asp.net is not sql it is asp.net
learn sql
learn php
learn asp
learn .net
3 languages and a framework [ .net being the framework ]
by jslarochelle
Jamesnkk,
Before you get into database programming you have to understand that there is at least three different aspects to this:
1) Database design. This has to do with identifying the data that you have to store and the relation between those data elements.
This is a largely conceptual activity. By that I mean that much of what you have to do at this stage is similar whether you store your data in a database or not.
2) SQL
If you work with relational database (most of us do) this is the gateway to your data. This is the language that the database understands. However, you will rarely run SQL directly (unless the database your work with as a shell that let's you do that). You will use a language that supports running SQL statement (see 3 below).
3) A language that lets you run SQL statement from your application. This can be Java, PHP or any number of other language. I can't help you with that because I don't do Web programming.
The bottom line is that there are 3 things that you will have to learn and those are separate things. However 1 and 2 are common to all approach and you can start learning database design and SQL right now and keep looking for the proper language.
by z_sadat
for the databse programming in market there are two tools are available easily Oracle and MS SQL plate ONe is Microsoft product and another is non microsoft products. These two database tools work with other programming language like ASP J2EE dot net plate form etc.
so first learn Oracle or MS SQL
What about Sybase, DB2, MySQL, PostGre, RDB .. ?
...
Learn SQL, then adapt vendor specific stuff.
I certainly wouldn't recommend Oracle as a start, not unless you've won the lottery or something.
by jaqui
you don't need to win the lottery for oracle, they are giving away oracle for personal use / development.
you only need to buy licenses for taking your oracle based app live.
here's the page from thier site:
by oz_media
Yeah you can get a free copy for yourself. The company I'm contracting for is just deploying a new Oracle DB (which I despise) but oh well at least it's not my responsibility to manage and repair it.
Yes, Oracle costs an arm and a leg (or two) but it works, sometimes.
I still prefer building a customized CRM from common apps (Act, GoldMine etc.) as a salesman, but for the number crunchers a DB is a must, yet limited/ugly as far as CRM abilities (library management, unified messaging, sales funnels etc.) are concerned.
by the time you've paid for all the training, you can't afford the product.
Still wouldn't recommend it as a start for learning, that would be like learning programing basics with occam or lisp, or taking your first driving lesson in a rolls-royce
by jaqui
saying it's a good starting point.
only that if you know sql, and dba, then you can learn oracle by yourself simply by getting the free personal edition.
I wouldn't even recommend postgresql for learning the basics with. I would go with a simpler interface db like mysql. once the language has been learned then move into a more comple( x / ete ) dbms. using oracle / sybase / postgresql / interbase to learn on would be comparable to learning to fly a jet..on a jumbo jet with half the engines out. ;)
It does have one of, if not the best query optimisers ever, but unless you've got something huge like major telecomms or banking, it's far from good value for money, even then it's debatable. Course if you want to be a highly paid DBA, it's the best thing since alcohol, drugs and loose women.
There are plans at my current job to have a look at OracleLite, we'll have to see but Lite and Oracle aren't concpts that normally go together in my head.
by jaqui
is the same as oracle, but no support for multiple core / cpu systems.
so it's use would be limited to internal backend for a small to medium sized business. If you need to have a dbms for a large business or for website then I wouldn't recommend the single cpu / core oracle light. the performance would suck. :)
by pueblonative
First off, what type of database programming are
you talking about? Are you talking about the end
language (i.e. C++, Java, PHP), or are you
talking about developing a database (Oracle, SQL
Server, MySQL)?
In the end, all database programming is demanding
in its own way.
by dogknees
My best recommendation is that you make sure you understand the basic concepts well before you dive into any specific product. The principles of relational databases are (pretty much) common to all the major tools that have been mentioned here.
If you don't have a firm grasp of what a relation is, how a query is put together, and other basic information, you'll get lost very quickly in the complexities of realworld databases. It's challenging enough without trying to learn both the concepts and the details of the system you're working on at the same time.
One thing, I'm guessing you mean "what is most in demand" rather than "most demanding" given the context. If so, SQL and Oracle are probably high on the list, but open source/public domain tools like MySQL are rapidly penetrating the market, particularly in the Web hosting area.
Hope that helps.
Regards
by lewisc1
Jaqui,
That's not quite right. Personal Edition, or PE, like Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition are all free to download, try and learn from. PE is a personal edition for production use that requires a paid license.
However, Oracle has recently introduced Oracle eXpress Edition, XE, that is completely free. You can play with it, develop on it, include it in your app, etc. It is free to use and distribute as you see fit.
You can read about it here: http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/xe/index.html
I've written a few entries about it on my blog.
Thanks,
LewisC
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