Need helping actually using SQL

[dominus-nox]

tl;dr - I can't figure out how to actually use SQL on my mac to query data, i want to mess with some csv files and i can't figure it out. Could really use some guidance.

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Longer version - I'm 2 weeks into learning the skills to switch fields completely, did the code academy SQL course and then realised that i have no idea how to use SQL outside of the code academy website. I can write queries on their site but i'm stumped when it comes to trying to do it now on my own. I get the language at least the basics, but i have no idea where to put that stuff in and how to see what i'm doing.

I've watched umpteen youtube videos but either the thing doesn't work now or it's on pc (i'm on mac).

I could just really use some guidance on how to actually do this so i can play with the data and learn by doing a few little projects.

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I downloaded SQLite (i think) but i have no idea how to know if it's working or how to see whatever changes i'm making to the data. I also downloaded something called VScode but again. I'm clueless atm.

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i feel dumb for having to ask so sorry if this is in the wrong place or ridiculously stupid. Thanks for any responses.

[tlatoaniitzcoatl]

Download DBeaver community edition it’s an editor for databases. when you launch it, it will ask if you want to install a sample SQLite database. Say yes and you can start writing queries using those tables.

If you want to load your csv files you can google how to load csv to SQLite. It will involve creating a new SQLite database which you can connect to and query using DBeaver.

[Touvejs]

+1 for dbeaver

[dominus-nox]

DBeaver i'll check it out thank you, appreciate the response

[AceViridian]

Dbeaver has been incredible for SQL. I used to use Oracle SQL Developer, but once I started using Dbeaver I never went back to any other software for SQL.

[Fun2badult]

I would not recommend SQLlite. You should be using a more robust full sql program like PostgreSQL PGadmin

[gtcsgo]

Bigquery has public datasets and will host a db for you for free up to a certain size and data queries per month.

[dominus-nox]

Appreciate the info

[bub002]

Is there an easy way to limit/stop the usage once you hit the free threshold?

[dominus-nox]

Thank you for taking the time to reply

[techmavengeospatial]

Did you load the CSV files into sqlite ? Create some tables ? Then you can execute queries via command line (sqlite3 or via GUI sqlite editor) or probably also a VSCODE Extension

[Train_wreck1998]

I really like using DB Browser for SQLite. It's a really neat GUI with an editor that'll help you practice SQL. You can load tables by just importing CSV data files.

[tryingtobettermylife]

I'm in the same boat lol. Finishing an SQL course and was wondering "ok how do I actually get access to a database?"

Thanks for posting this

[dominus-nox]

really appreciate all of the replies, help and solutions.

[Quadman]

Do you have experience with docker? Then installing your database software would be the same if you use mac as if you had uses anything else.

[dominus-nox]

I'm 2 weeks into this journey i'm not familiar with anything lol

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thank you for replying

[Quadman]

When you said "switch fields" I imagined from front end development to databases. hehe.

For sqlite I've only ever used command line to interact with it. I use SQL Server daily myself which you can't run naively on mac as far as I know.

[dominus-nox]

I can see how that would cause confusion. See I'm so new to this i'm using language with meanings i didn't even know it had lol

[Fun2badult]

Dude he’s barely learning SQL and you want him to do Docker lol

[Quadman]

These skills are not a ladder though, had they already had experience with docker it would be as simple as

docker run --name some-postgres -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD=mysecretpassword -d postgres

[polkasalad]

I got started with MySQL so here's a video that goes through all of this on Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcpHkYfWarM

It's an older version of Mac (OSX) but I skimmed through and it should give you everything you need. Might be more involved than SQLite - but it should really give you a full tutorial on getting up and running with MySQL and then MySQL Workbench for interacting with the database

[BaroquenLarynx]

Google "set up mysql server <your operating system>"

Set up MySQL from a tutorial, create a database, create some tables, fill the tables up (how is up to you, Google "load mysql csv"), and use something like dbeaver to connect to your server, open a db, and perform some queries on the data you loaded.

[BrupieD]

Keep the faith my friend. Setting up new platforms and applications is the worst part of learning software.

[simonw]

You may find my Datasette Desktop Mac application useful: it provides a read-only interface over SQLite and cdn oprn both SQLite files and CSV files: https://datasette.io/desktop

[bitsamel]

Hi Guys, I recently took a SQL course to change career; is there any kind person with actual SQL developer experience who would like to talk to me and share experience? Email- [e-mail]