My name is Elliot and I haven't used SQL before. (hello Elliot)
Ok that isn't strictly true, I have used a few little bits within Access over the years but I've never done anything passed querying a database. But today marks my first attempt to create a database, from scratch in SQL, and surprisingly it doesnt seam to bad (I'm convinced I'll live to regret those words). The at first scary looking Notepad++ screens are demystifying themselves as I forge forward into the new world of databases. A world that doesnt appear to be the bleak waste filled only with disgruntled DBAs that I thought is was.
I like many application programmers have had a cold shoulder relationship with databases for some time. So naturally there was some contempt on my part when I started a database module, and I have suffered from a case of the "I'll get to that later I've got C++ programming to do first"s. However having sunk my teeth into it I'm not finding databases to be quite the sour grape that I expected, the challenge of database design is not without its own interests (normalisation for example which is definitely a surprise interest).
I have to say I think the animosity that people have towards databases comes from the limited scope that we see them in at school. I first used databases when I learnt how to use Access during secondary school in my early teens. As I recall it was a database about cars (it was an all boys school, I'm not saying they knew their demographic when they designed the syllabus, but they totally knew their demographic) with maybe 30 cars included in a single table affair. Looking back I can see why I lost interest with databases, it was explained why databases are used but the full scope that they are used in wasn't. I couldn't see where they fitted in and why they were so important, maybe part of that was to do with my mind not understanding the true scale of the world and the data that is produced these days. Nonetheless there is definitely room to improve how it is taught.
If databases were introduced with a larger database with say hundreds of records (that is a lot when your 12/13) and a number of tables, it would be easier to understand why we need databases and their importance. If designed well it could even be taught at first in only one table for simplicity. Then as students progress through years more complicated aspects can be included. A world that better understands database can surely only be an improvement.
Ok that isn't strictly true, I have used a few little bits within Access over the years but I've never done anything passed querying a database. But today marks my first attempt to create a database, from scratch in SQL, and surprisingly it doesnt seam to bad (I'm convinced I'll live to regret those words). The at first scary looking Notepad++ screens are demystifying themselves as I forge forward into the new world of databases. A world that doesnt appear to be the bleak waste filled only with disgruntled DBAs that I thought is was.
I like many application programmers have had a cold shoulder relationship with databases for some time. So naturally there was some contempt on my part when I started a database module, and I have suffered from a case of the "I'll get to that later I've got C++ programming to do first"s. However having sunk my teeth into it I'm not finding databases to be quite the sour grape that I expected, the challenge of database design is not without its own interests (normalisation for example which is definitely a surprise interest).
I have to say I think the animosity that people have towards databases comes from the limited scope that we see them in at school. I first used databases when I learnt how to use Access during secondary school in my early teens. As I recall it was a database about cars (it was an all boys school, I'm not saying they knew their demographic when they designed the syllabus, but they totally knew their demographic) with maybe 30 cars included in a single table affair. Looking back I can see why I lost interest with databases, it was explained why databases are used but the full scope that they are used in wasn't. I couldn't see where they fitted in and why they were so important, maybe part of that was to do with my mind not understanding the true scale of the world and the data that is produced these days. Nonetheless there is definitely room to improve how it is taught.
If databases were introduced with a larger database with say hundreds of records (that is a lot when your 12/13) and a number of tables, it would be easier to understand why we need databases and their importance. If designed well it could even be taught at first in only one table for simplicity. Then as students progress through years more complicated aspects can be included. A world that better understands database can surely only be an improvement.
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