Database Technologies?

Question

Hey,
I'm still very new to this so bear with me. I just started looking into Database technologies and checked out so far, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL 2000, and Microsoft Access. From what I gather, MySQL is standardly used, but that s*it is expensive!!!! For a guy who's just learning databasing, I will more than likely start with Access, but when I get better, would something like PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL be ok? Will not specifically having experience with MySQL effect my future job hunts?

Answer 1

Both MySQL, PostgreSQL are FREE. I use MySQL on one server for client applications that might take their completed work elsewhere to host. This is due to the wide use of MySQL. However, the free version only holds about 65,000 rows in a table last time I checked.



So, I use PostGreSQL for all heavy duty applications (unlimited number of rows in a table) and simply let the client know that the database used is not as common as ones like MySQL, so they end up staying with me for hosting.



I personally like PostGreSQL for the size, contrib library, and a few more advanced features that are missing in common SQL RDBMs. It has been known to be a bit slow with HUGE tables, but with partitioning, I've overcome that. MySQL is fast, but who couldn't be fast with only 65K rows in a table.



Most common SQL statements will work with all the mentioned DBs, so learn one, and you'll have the basics of all.

Answer 2

If you're new then you can't beat a free SQL as mentioned above.



How do you learn? For a guy learning database...

If your learning about this from scratch and are more of a visual (graphics)person than reading explanations. I suggest MS Access. It uses a lot of wizards and help menus to give you visual representations of stuff (database basics).

If you can read and comprehend stuff ok without lots of pictures to back it up (sorry not me). Then MySql express would be cool.



Practical use:

I used access, Sybase SQL, MS Sql and other brands. All have there places for use in various work places.



However, you mentioned getting a job. "Will not

specifically having experience......job hunts?"



More jobs want some brand of Sql but if you read what they say....experience of so much time. Before you go down this learning road maybe you should ask about how hard it is to get a job doing this and how do you break in and what do they specifically want. Feed back on that might help you out a lot.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Hmm, MySql is free, as is PostgreSQL. I don't know who told you it costs money, I think they're trying to swindle you.



Learning on Access should be fine, but be aware it doesn't support a lot of things standard on most SQL servers, like Stored Procedures. Access tends to break on large databases too (1 million + records) whereas a well designed SQL server can process nearly any amount of data.



Microsoft SQL Server Express is free, it's great. It's missing some things that regular SQL server has, like remote access, but you can write a web service that forwards calls to SQL server, essentially restoring remove access.



Everywhere I've worked uses MS SQL Server, so experience in MySQL Won't help that much, but then again the technologies are very similar, and going from one to the other is a minimal learning curve compared to starting from scratch.

Answer 4

MySQL is opensource => free, thats why its commonly used. To be honest once you get down a SQL well you can really jump to any of them with minimal effort. You can install MySQL for free on your computer by going to http://www.mysql.com . Also, a good book for learning is Larry Ullman's MySQL. Get it on amazon used. Cost of doing all this, and learning MySQL? Probably about 20$.

Answer 5

while you're speaking company IT, Oracle, sq. Server and DB2 are probable your ultimate bets (in that order) till you're proceeding to artwork as a webmaster in an intranet or organisation cyber web website. if so, MySQL is probable additionally a contender (tho probably considered one of the different 3 is likewise in use because of the fact the corporate back end which feeds the server database.)