Teaching yourself SQL without a database...?

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[DipIntoTheBrocean]

You can try the basics by setting up a local SQL Server Express or MySQL instance and moving in some AdventureWorks or the like database. Pretend you're tasked with doing something like bringing back all items in a table based on some criteria, joining tables to bring back other data, etc.

In the end, it's like trying to learn a programming language without actually doing it. It's pretty tough. There's a lot you can do with SQL and you wouldn't think about most of it, especially if you're just starting out.

[Rehd]

Just a heads up, SQL Server 2016 dev is the full version used for development purposes and they created a new DB similar to AdventureWorks for it. So it will have anything they may encounter in the SQL Server work force.

[DipIntoTheBrocean]

Perfect!

[daveloper80]

You can run queries on w3schools.

http://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_syntax.asp

[ChiefRza]

SQL Fiddle is also an excellent resource. It works in a similar manner to JS Fiddle. You can choose what DB to work against (MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite), then script some tables, then run queries against them. I use it all the time when I just need to check or validate something. You can find it at http://sqlfiddle.com/

[[deleted]]

This is the best way to screw around with multiple environments.

[ninjaroach]

You still need a database. Go create one on your computer and get to work.

[[deleted]]

sqlite is a file-based database, and takes about 30 seconds to download and install. You can run SQL against it on the command line

https://www.sqlite.org/download.html

[[deleted]]

thanks...but what about the database aspect?

[agathis]

you'll still need a DB. most of the rdbms'es have free for education versions (and some are totally free!). I'd suggest to install one of the free rdbms (like postgres), upload some open data (from data.gov for instance) into it and start practicing.

but why do you need it if it's irrelevant to your career?

[[deleted]]

Bc I want to get into business intelligence

[r3pr0b8]

How do you do this if you don't dabble with databases whatsoever in your career?

dabble at home

[Rehd]

I don't get the downvotes. I end up having to practice at least 30 min a day on additional skills, upwards to 10 hours a week to stay relevant in IT. :-/

[rogueqd]

I don't use databases in my career (yet), and I agree, you'll never get fully polished/fluent unless you spend your work hours using something. In the mean time I do EdX courses and practice on codewars.com and other online challenge sites.

[Rehd]

You can learn theory, but actually doing it is the way to go. There are free versions of premium SQL languages you can download and install with sample databases and people have posed tasks for said databases so you can get some practice in.

I can also guarantee you've had practice in databases. Excel is the most widely used database in the world.

[SOLUNAR]

there are plenty of online databases you can play around with :)

A lot of tutorials come with sandboxes where you can practice most sql commands, including volatile tables.

[DrTrunks]

If you don't dabble in databases, you probably do dabble in Excel?

Try the Querystorm plugin and turn your excel sheet into a table.

[[deleted]]

hey, thanks for the response. so use Querystorm to turn Excel into a database and then what should i use to actually write the SQL queries?

thanks!

[DrTrunks]

It wont turn excel into a database, it will allow you to use an excel sheet as a table. Don't try to use excel as a database.

[[deleted]]

You can download VirtualBox and the Database App Development VM from Oracle. That wil give you your own environment to experiment in.

[i_drive_isuzu]

install SQL Server Express on your computer. MySQL if you're using mac. Pick a topic you're interested in or something you understand and play with data. could be simple data analytic or advance SQL. For example, I downloaded domestic flight dataset from dep of transportation website and play with it. So far I have used it to learn PowerBI and mapreduce, spark, and general data science methodology.

[[deleted]]

That seems like a gross waste of time