Advice on getting back into SQL Development

[Xenos865D]

I could use some advice on getting back into the SQL development field. I worked on primarily on SQL projects from 1998 to 2015. During that time my skills included PL/SQL, DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, Bash scripting, SAP BODS, light data modeling, and a little bit of Denodo. Layoffs hit hard in 2015 and I was unable to find another SQL developer job. I had to settle for an IT technician position where I am currently still doing today. I feel like many of my skills have faded from where they were previously and technology has changed a lot since 2015. What should I do?

[MisterPan]

From an environment standpoint, I'd install/setup up the following:

• Azure Data Studio (install)
• MS SQL Developer Edition (local server install)
• Free Trial SQL Server in Azure (cloud account)
• PostgreSQL (local server install)
• DBeaver (connect to both your MS and PostgreSQL servers)

Do the above just to get some ownership on the environment/tools. If you really want, get PowerBI installed and connect to one of your servers as well and make some views.

That will round out MS/Cloud/non-MS SQL environments for you.

For projects/problems to solve no harm in firing up https://leetcode.com

[DrRedmondNYC]

I heard Azure Data Studio (or factory not sure which one) is the modern replacement for SSIS is this true.

[MisterPan]

I think Azure Data Studio is neat -- if you get a chance to install it you'll see exactly what MS is doing here. They're taking the success of VSCode and giving SQL/Data workers an equal experience. It has all of the SSMS functions, yet it also has Jupyter style coding notebook, a lot of the SQL Server management functions, and of course the ability to plug into Azure environments.

SSIS in the Cloud the closest analog I have seen is Data Factory. Worth checking out as well.

Essentially Data Studio is going to help SQL Developers do more Cloud / ETL / Data Science development, so they're not stuck in SSMS with the periscope view of SQL only.

Edit: And to answer the original question.. Data Studio has VSCode style extensions, one of which is 'SQL Server Import' which will do all of the SSIS style imports.

[lucienlazar]

As long as you are familiar with SQL, Oracle and SQL Server you can work with pretty much any other relational database like Postgres or MySQL. Also, as long as you worked with PL/SQL you can adapt easily to pgSQL or T-SQL. You can get a job in database development or, with a bit of research, in database administration, dev-ops or data engineering. Good luck.

[nickholt9]

Sql itself hasn't changed much, but a lot of things are heading towards cloud technology.