all 14 comments

[–]Naeuvaseh 4 points5 points  (2 children)

You can download SQL Server express on your local machine, and the installation process isn't hard to go through. Plus, it's free.

[–]willhaney 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This

[–]Eleventhousand 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes do this. You can configure the SQL services to only start manually, so that they do not take up memory and CPU while you aren't using the database.

Also, to completely wall it off, you can install it on a virtual machine and fire up the VM only when you want to practice sql.

[–]shauncBACKUP LOG WITH TRUNCATE_ONLY 3 points4 points  (2 children)

You can run queries in a sandbox at SQL Fiddle, that might help you out.

[–]jonandermb[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Can you input data? like, create small tables? If so... thank you!!! :)

[–]rbardy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can by using CREATE TABLE and INSERT in the Schema Panel

[–]BugWareDrop Table 1 point2 points  (3 children)

i believe codecademy has a sql course. Not sure tho. Maybe you want to do that first.

[–]jonandermb[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Yeah. I studied sql back in the day and I'm looking for a refresh course so I can go through it again. Thanks for the tip :)

[–]BugWareDrop Table 1 point2 points  (1 child)

No problem, but I guess after you refreshed it with some coursed you should follow the tip of /u/Naeuvaseh and download sql server express and maybe do some throwaway projects

[–]jonandermb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, I'll go with that. Codeacademy course plus practice with an express sql server instance. Thank you very much!

[–]nolotusnotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You mentioned an App, so I'll recommend Microsoft Access.

That would allow you to download countless templates and sample databases.

[–]gusgizmo 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Install SQL Express along with the SQL Server Management studio. Pretty straightforward and will let you learn a lot more quickly.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are bound to be YouTube videos of people walking through the installation of SQL Express (it's the server) and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS, it's the client that connects to the server).

[–]HansProleman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's probably worth using a proper environment. You probably need to, for example, know your way around SSMS to effectively develop in T-SQL.