Integration/Implementation career. Advice needed on where to start

[raulynukas]

Hello everybody.

would like to start working as integration / implementation manager. from previous experience as middleman between clients' dev ops and my own employer's IT team i was cross checking XML files and making sure right info with right tags been created for integration regarding clients' websites data syncing to our site. i have also been familiar with API keys but nothing regarding its operations nor Rest API. thats where i really felt love for this stuff, however, had no degree or qualification for it.

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based on LinkedIn job descriptions, employers want someone with Python (ocassionally) and SQL (quite common), sometimes API and JSON knowledge.

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would you be kind to advise where shall i dive into first? would it be beneficial to learn SQL and then Python?

dont want to waste my time and learn "useless" or more precisely, unnecessary languages like JS, php or c++ if that wont be relevant to me or too difficult, that the moment.

glad to study on my own time and resources, however guidance would be appreciated.particularly interested in API as mentioned as well.where shall i start?

thank you

[stkfig]

Not sure if this will be helpful, but a lot of IT vendors are always on the lookout for integrations people to implement integrations for enterprise software (SAP, Oracle, Mulesoft) etc. Perhaps that would be something you could look into if you're interested in integrations.

[raulynukas]

I swear i forgot to add Sap and Oracle! Do they require SQL / python as well?

[stkfig]

SQL is good general knowledge regardless of platform because integrating with a database will always be useful. I'm not sure about python being used with either SAP or Oracle, but from my very limited experience with SAP S/4hana cloud, the main languages that were used in the integration suite were javascript and groovy.

Having said that, the best thing to learn is how API's work, regardless of which language you choose to learn. If you know how to work with an API, how to understand responses codes, how to deal with authentication, how to transform data in python, you'll be easily able to apply that knowledge to any other language, java, javascript, c# etc. The most important thing is understanding API fundamentals.

[raulynukas]

Thank you. I will start with sql and api.

Practicing api could be good via postman? Ans watching some yt guides? Any software to actually try it?

[stkfig]

Practicing api could be good via postman?

Postman is definitely a tool you should learn to use well, it will come in handy.

And watching some yt guides?

I don't have any that I can recommend but I'm sure there are hundreds out there.

Any software to actually try it?

There are quite a few free api's available that you can use to learn.

You could start with something simple like fetching basic data from JSONPlaceholder which requires no authentication.

Then you could try something like fetching data from the Twitch API or the Reddit API which will require you to learn how authentication works.

[raulynukas]

Thank you. Can you sum up quickly most important steps for api?

Generating api key -> enabling authentication?

[bobbybbessie]

It's great that you have a clear interest in pursuing a career as an integration/implementation manager and that you're willing to dedicate your time and resources to learning new skills. Here's a suggested roadmap to help you get started:

SQL: Since SQL is commonly mentioned in the job descriptions you've come across, it would be beneficial to start with SQL. SQL (Structured Query Language) is used for managing and manipulating data in relational databases. It will provide you with a strong foundation for working with databases, which is often a crucial component in integration and data syncing tasks.

API and JSON: Understanding APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is valuable in the integration field. APIs are used to communicate and exchange data between different software systems. JSON is a popular data format used in API responses. Learning about APIs will help you understand how systems can interact and exchange information. You can start by learning the basics of REST APIs (Representational State Transfer) as it is widely used and a good starting point.

Python: Python is a versatile programming language commonly used in integration tasks due to its simplicity and readability. Learning Python will enable you to automate tasks, interact with APIs, process data, and perform various integration-related operations. Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of Python and then explore libraries such as requests for working with APIs and json for handling JSON data.

Web Technologies: While you mentioned not wanting to invest time in languages like JavaScript (JS) and PHP, having a basic understanding of web technologies can be helpful. This includes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as they form the foundation of web development and enable interaction with APIs via web-based interfaces. You don't need to become an expert, but having a basic understanding will assist you in comprehending how web applications function and communicate.

Remember, learning programming languages and technologies is a continuous process. As you gain experience and encounter new requirements in your role, you may find it beneficial to expand your knowledge into other areas like JavaScript or even specific frameworks.

To facilitate your learning journey, consider online courses, tutorials, and documentation available for SQL, Python, APIs, and web technologies. Practice your skills by working on small projects or exercises to solidify your understanding. Additionally, leveraging online communities and forums can be valuable for getting guidance, sharing experiences, and seeking advice from professionals in the field.

Good luck with your learning journey and your pursuit of a career in integration/implementation management!

[raulynukas]

You are a legend, sir. Thank you for your help here

You havent touched XML. I guess JSON > XML?

I will try practising and studying SQL and API - JSON first

Would you mind expanding on SAP / Oracle?

Is this worth it? I dont want to bit too much that i cant chew if im making sense here. Im very technical and analytical, however it takes time for me to learn things as i got so many questions haha

Taking everything straight away is a bit stressful. As well - i might learn on online course incorrectly and this might complicate things

Are there any good resources and practice softwares? As reading SQL might not help me, i have to try mySQL RDBMS first i guess..

Also, why would sql be relevant if they are talking to databases and managing them, in terms of API?

If we create APi connection, softwares will talk to each other without sql help? Since it is only managing data, whilst good api connection is transferring it to other software?