Closed. This question does not meet Stack Overflow guidelines. It is not currently accepting answers.
We don’t allow questions seeking recommendations for books, tools, software libraries, and more. You can edit the question so it can be answered with facts and citations.
Closed 6 years ago.
Improve this question
I have a strong database background but very little practical experience with ms sql server.
I want to learn the tools, the architecture, profiling and tuning.
Besides browsing around for little bits and pieces of information, I'm actually looking for larger guides. Books, training, series of articles, etc.
How do you recommend I start?
The best way to learn is by participating in newsgroups and forums. In the beginning you can just lurk but try to get information in...After a while you will notice that you know to answer some questions...start participating
get some good sql server books, if you can't afford books take a look at Good SQL Articles To Read If You Can't Afford Books there is some really good stuff here
Check out all the SQL Server whitepapers available
Listen to sql podcasts sqldownunder has 43 of them
Follow sql people on twitter and see what they link to, a list of people to follow on twitter can be found here sql directory
I also interviewed a bunch of SQL Server legends like Ken Henderson, Kalen Delaney and more, you can find a list here: All the interviews I did with SQL legends
Books and training is only one aspect.
Practical work is worth it's weight in gold. If you can get near a production environment with a live database and have access to a DBA willing to take you under his/her wing, take full use of the opportunity
I use Expert SQL Server 2005 Development by Adam Machanic. Online tutorials are great too. Especially ones that have video.
When I first started out with MSSQL I found the SQL2000 book from the Wrox "Professional" range to be a very good starting point, it might be worth you looking for if they have an updated edition. Everything else I've picked up frmo official documentation, other websites, and just kicking things to see what they do.
Start reading books. there are number of author who work hard to create the basic very clearly, and then if you feel that's not enough Internet is the best of all and has abundant material.
Related
Closed. This question is opinion-based. It is not currently accepting answers.
Want to improve this question? Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post.
Closed 2 years ago.
Improve this question
So for context, I picked up MS SQL Server because the job required it. Currently, I'm able to do basic querying, and joins.
I hit a roadblock when I researched on how to improve, because the information seems to be overwhelming.
For example, some threads say to learn more about Database Administration while others seems to suggest that pursuing a certification by Microsoft is the way forward. Then I came across Data Engineering which is apparently different from Database Administration.
From what I gather, it looks like I should be working towards becoming a Data Engineer or Database Administrator. However, I'm not sure how I can go about it from where I am currently.
I just want to get better at it, and I'd love to hear what you guys feel is an appropriate way forward.
Thanks guys!
Brent Ozar to the rescue! While you are there check out the many resources they have on their website.
Go to StackOverflow and dig through some of the SQL questions and try to answer some. Even if you don't figure it out you'll learn a ton by trying.
People hiring Data Engineers are usually looking for formal training and education and you might not get far self learning. The name Database Administrator is a bit of a misnomer. Many places use Database Administrator and Database Developer interchably, especially places with heavily data driven systems where most business logic in the database. If you are interested in working with the data, and structuring the data, you probably want Database Developer, if you prefer maintaining the system, performance tuning and such then Database Administrator is the way to go. But like I said there is quite a bit of overlap with both roles.
Getting Into a Database Administrator Position
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2008/05/moving-from-help-desk-to-database-administrator/
How to Get a Junior DBA Job – Part 1
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2009/04/how-to-get-a-junior-dba-job-part-1/
Closed. This question does not meet Stack Overflow guidelines. It is not currently accepting answers.
We don’t allow questions seeking recommendations for books, tools, software libraries, and more. You can edit the question so it can be answered with facts and citations.
Closed 2 years ago.
Improve this question
I will be given a job offer by an IT company, and was asked to "look at" PL/SQL since I didn't have much experience with databases. I have an extensive background in C++ among other programming languages, so I don't think this will pose too much of a challenge. However, I don't have access to any Oracle database at home, so I was wondering if there is a "toy" database and terminal online where I can practice.
Register yourself an account at APEX ONLINE you have all of the tools for free available online, or simple download Oracle Database 10g Express Edition
I would suggest a higher priority would be to learn the Relational model of data, then SQL.
If you don't start with a solid understanding of the RM, you're more likely to tend to use procedural solutions where a set-based approach is better.
Go and get the Express version of the database server Here
As for learning PL/SQL start
here
You just download sql developer tool by using this link..do practice well.
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-tools/sql-developer/downloads/index.html?ssSourceSiteId=ocomen
There is another site where you can practice PL/SQL online:
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/oracle_terminal_online.php
Oracle have some VM images with Oracle Linux ready-to-run:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/linux/downloads/vm-for-hol-1896500.html (64bits VM)
To learn PL/SQL language you just need a text editor like atom or sublime text. You can also install MySQL.
Closed. This question does not meet Stack Overflow guidelines. It is not currently accepting answers.
Questions asking us to recommend or find a tool, library or favorite off-site resource are off-topic for Stack Overflow as they tend to attract opinionated answers and spam. Instead, describe the problem and what has been done so far to solve it.
Closed 8 years ago.
Improve this question
We have grown from a small time of 2-3 developers to about 30 developers very quickly. We supposedly never needed Source Control, or Db Monitoring or Schema diagrams.
Now we see more and more terrible code being moved to the Production. Is there an off the shelf product for oracle that will help manage version control and deployment management from Test, to UAT, to Prod?
Also nice to have would be Schema diagrams, Documentation Tools, some amount of performance profiling capabilities. But primarily would like to a tool to manage code source control and Migration for oracle scripts, DDL, DMLs etc.
I srongly recommend getting Oracle'e SQL Developer. This integrates with Subversion, provides an overview of the entire database, including procedures, schema changes and so on. This will make your life easier.
have you considered SVN for your source control and management of scripts, DDLs and etc? Our ORACLE DBAs use it here and they swear by it.
I know I am very late to this party, however, I wanted to draw your attention to our product, dbMaestro TeamWork for Oracle, which provides exactly the functionality required here. We offer the functionality equivalent to source control tools for Oracle artifacts. Many companies use SCM by proxy (as suggested above by northpole, re using SVN), our solution is "in touch' with the database as required by Reuben on the original post. To read more please visit our site at http://www.dbmaestro.com or e-mail us at info#go-esi.com.
Disclosure - My company represents this product in the US.
TOAD (by Quest Software) is fantastic and includes most of what you want including source control.
Closed. This question does not meet Stack Overflow guidelines. It is not currently accepting answers.
We don’t allow questions seeking recommendations for books, tools, software libraries, and more. You can edit the question so it can be answered with facts and citations.
Closed 4 years ago.
Improve this question
So lets say that you want to learn some stuff about database internals. What's the best source code to look at? the best books to buy?
I was talking about this with a buddy the other day and he recommended:
Art of Computer Programming, Volume 3: Sorting and Searching
What other books would help me learn about all the File IO and memory issues, pages, locking, etc.... ?
Textbook: Database Management Systems by Ramakrishnan and Gehrke.
Or: Architecture of a Database System by Hellerstein, Stonebraker, and Hamilton.
Production Code: PostgreSQL
(I like the PG code better than SQLite , it's far more complete and, I think, better organized. SQLite is awesome for what it does, but there is a lot it doesn't take on).
Extra Credit: Readings in Database Systems, 4th edition edited by Hellerstein.
If you are really serious, and although a tough read none other by the late and great Jim Gray and Reuter:
Transaction Processing, Concepts and Techniques
Again if serious, do not bother with anything else.. it's out of this world and certainly out of mySQL chasing by IBM or Oracle..
The SQLite source is very approachable to learn about database implementations.
PostgreSQL is a very well written piece of software, with higher complexity than SQLite.
A colleague and I got a great deal of information out of Database in Depth: Relational Theory for Practitioners Very low level stuff but it sounds like that is the sort of thing you are looking for.
Take a look at Database Systems: The Complete Book by by Hector Garcia-Molina, Jeffrey D. Ullman, Jennifer D. Widom. It is specifically about the internals of the DBMS.
The answer by SquareCog also contains sensible suggestions; I've not looked at the two books mentioned (though the Stonebreaker "Architecture" book is only 136 pages according to Amazon, which seems a tad lightweight).
Here's an interesting read about SQLOS, which drives Microsoft SQL Server 2005+.
In depth information about internals is database specific, here's a source on SQL Server 2008:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft%C2%AE-SQL-Server%C2%AE-2008-Internals/dp/0735626243
Not everybody likes his style, but I find that Joe Celko does a fine job of explaining the set-based logic that drives SQL databases. If you already have a little SQL experience under your belt, you should read SQL for Smarties.
Make sure that whatever you get covers relational algebra and relational calculus. No point delving into database internals if you don't have the basic theoretical background. Past that, any college style databases textbook will probably suffice.
Closed. This question does not meet Stack Overflow guidelines. It is not currently accepting answers.
We don’t allow questions seeking recommendations for books, tools, software libraries, and more. You can edit the question so it can be answered with facts and citations.
Closed 7 years ago.
Improve this question
What books or online resource would you recommend for learning how to do advanced charts and dashboard design with Reporting Services?
While not specific to SSRS The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is the place to start.
I am very partial to Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual Communication of Data. I also found, having read that book, that COLOURLovers was a great place to get very nice palettes of colo(u)rs which are part of the recommendation in the book.
Personally, I'm not sure SSRS is quite right for dashboard applications (I have worked on a implementation of SSRS) though SSAS certainly is great from the reporting/warehouse side IMHO, but the SSRS story doesn't seem to fit... just my anecdotal opinon.
It's a big topic so good luck!
Richard
For dashboards I can recommend Performance Dashboards: Measuring, Monitoring, and Managing Your Business
SSRS might not be the best approach for a dashboard, though it offers great reporting functionality.
You may want to take a look at Microsoft PerformancePoint 2007. It can make dashboards and widgets out of SSRS, SQL, Excel etc data and display it visually on Sharepoint.
I have read most of the SSRS 2008 books on the market and would highly recommend two - they both have decent amounts of content around charts and gauges
Applied Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services By Teo Lachev
http://www.amazon.com/Applied-Microsoft-Server-Reporting-Services/dp/0976635313/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233159590&sr=8-1
Microsoft® SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services by Brian Larson
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft%C2%AE-Server-Reporting-Services-Microsoft/dp/0071548084/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233159590&sr=8-2