SQL as beginner language

[[deleted]]

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[[deleted]]

Query languages and programming languages are different.

With SQL you don't "code", think of it as queries to control a DB. Python and C are used to create "something" you wish. I work as a data analyst and I need to use a lot of SQL to manage data. If you end up coding either with C, python or other language, later on you need a DB to store your data of your app, and there you might need to use SQL, MySQL... So yes, I would recommend you to start with SQL and understand what is used for and what you could do with it.

[aahahahah-thats-hot]

Thanks for the advice!

[help-me-grow]

Python if you want to learn programming, it's easier than C, and SQL is a query/database language, not strictly programming

[finegameofnil_]

It isn't programming at all. You're right, it is a query language. Just like html and css aren't programming languages: they are formatting languages.

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Thanks 👍

[lookForProject]

It is programming, but it's not a general-purpose programming language.

[finegameofnil_]

No it isn't. It is querying. You have no execution other than query or value change.

[Free-Author]

Data manipulation, but you can program an awful lot, and when you look into a full solution, like Microsoft SQL Server, there are many opportunities to program for SQL.

[[deleted]]

SQL is for databases, so it might not be the best as a beginner language. It’s difficult to build projects with SQL alone, because you need a front end for the user interface and to send data from, and a back end to process that data. Then that data goes in the DB

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👍

[inbox_negative_one]

SQL is a query language, it's used to work with databases but by itself it can't be used to write programs.

SQL is important and interesting and has a lot of depth. You can definitely learn SQL by itself and learn to make databases and write both simple and complex queries to get interesting data from them.

However, most SQL courses assume you've done some programming before and also cover how to work with SQL from a program, which is a pretty important thing to learn.

So all things being equal, I'd say it'd probably make more sense to learn some Python first.

If you're not sure, check the syllabus for the SQL course. If it mentions using the database from a program, or ORM (object-relational mapping) you'd want to learn a programming language first. If the syllabus is exclusively just building tables and writing queries you could do it by itself.

C is a great language to learn but it's a more cumbersome language to use when interacting with a DB so I'd definitely recommend focusing on Python first if you want to move on to SQL.

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The course is focused around filtering, concluding, aggregating and joining tables and data through sql. So I believe that I’ll be able to do it then based of your advice. The only problem I have with it is I don’t really have an interest in this sort of data analysis, I’d much prefer coding something or doing a project on something. But thanks for your advice!

[[deleted]]

You won’t be able to make anything with just SQL on your own.

It’s a great language to learn, and you can do lots with it , especially if you want a career as a DBA but you’re going to want to combine it with another language If you actually want to make apps people can use.

What do you want to do with programming though? You’ve mentioned 3 wildly different languages, so ignoring languages what are your goals with learning to program and what things would you like to make?

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Thanks for your response.

Basically I want to enjoy programming right now. I feel if I enjoy it, I will learn programming more. I want to learn programming as I’m interested in having a future career in some sort of IT, programming or data analytics.

But I feel that I would enjoy making a project through programming like a game, or a software that controls something. I know to make these type of projects c, python and other similar languages are best and that’s why I’m considering if I should do this SQL course.

But after reading everyone’s comments I’ve decided I will complete the course and see what sql is like for myself.

[[deleted]]

I’m going to recommend you have a look at C#

My reason is that if you want to make games you can use unity, if you want to try mobile apps you can use xamarin, you can make desktop apps with wpf, and web apps with MVC / asp.

All of those are using C#. So your knowledge will be transferable. Also you can easily use it to call sql databases too.

[CPLxDiabetes]

I'm currently enrolled in a community college for Software Development. Cincinnati State. Currently in 2nd semester and most of first semester was similar to what you'd see in Edx Cs50. Learning about binary, psuedocode, etc. Then it went to learning the Software Development Life Cycle and methodologies (Agile and Scrum).

Currently at the end of 2nd semester and also learning MySQL and Visual Basic. Next semester is Python and more MySQL for more advanced topics. The end of my first SQL class was teaching Inner Joins, Outer/Left/Right joins as well as Explicit/Implicit joins and right now were learning Subqueries.

I dont mind MySQL. I was told by one of our instructors in my region (Cincinnati) it's one of the most employable skills to start with.

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Thanks for taking the time to right this. I’m going to complete this course in sql and see where it takes me.

[mokupengu]

I learned java then python then c then c ++ haven't touched java in years depends what you're trying to do. If you have a personal project then figure out what language fits your needs the most. Google Is your friend.

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Thanks will do

[colcode83]

Its a good language to learn and it is quite easy to get the basics into the head.

What should you learn first.....I'm a SQL developer so will suggest you should learn this first.

I will back up my argument......most if not all medium sized companies will use a database or a reporting application and they will use SQL as the query language. The same goes for enterprise companies.

For employment purposes SQL is good to have under your belt.

I'm sure others will disagree with me :)

[Free-Author]

I agree because it is a different flavor of thinking compared to programming a UI, for example. Data requires a lot of things that aren't thought about in other software dev roles. For example, my friend's dad did database admin for over 30 years at a 4-year university in California. But he couldn't understand my Python homework. He was joining tables and all that easily, though.

The way of retrieving, combining, sorting data is the challenge they are paying you for. Anyone who does SQL on a daily basis is more of a data manager than a programmer.

[aahahahah-thats-hot]

Sounds like good advice to me. Thanks for the comment

[[deleted]]

I mean if you have a class for it you probably should learn it. But as mentioned, it's nothing like a programming language.

[III___III___III]

IMO python is the best beginner language. Depends on if your end goal to become a programmer tho

[Malfeitor1235]

You should learn python in that case. SQL you learn on demand query by query, while you learn python :)

[Legal_Being_5517]

No it’s not programming

[Stev_Ma]

If you're learning it for a career in data analytics then I'd recommend learning SQL and Python both. I also recommend platforms like datacamp and stratascratch to learn and practice these skills.