Improve your SQL Coding
The entire world as we know is made of data. The four giants of the IT industry (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook) hold approximately 1,200 petabytes (that is1.2 million terabytes) of data (source). Data is the most sought asset in the IT industry for the data holds answers to the most common problems we humans face. The first company, which uses that data to provide the solutions efficiently wins the race. That’s the reason data analytics and data science jobs and courses are popping up everywhere.
The data is stored on databases like Oracle, Netezza, and MySQL. These databases understand Structured Query language or famously known as SQL for giving us the answers we need from the data. Almost all the industries (and not just IT) use applications that need databases to store the data. So, wherever you go in the IT industry now, knowing SQL will make you favorable from the competition.
I still remember when I was in college, studying the database as one of the subjects, I was so scared of the concepts and learning another language on top of C and C++, which were my favorites. I did not put much effort into learning it besides passing the exams thinking I won’t need it in the future.
Two years later, I started my job and the training began on Business Intelligence (BI) (what’s BI?). My fear came alive, the first class was to learn SQL using the Oracle database. I did what I had to do to keep my job, start learning, and give SQL another chance. And what I found, SQL is easy, like any other language you just need to work on the basics.
Ten years later, here I am, still writing about SQL. Do I know all of it? NO. Does anyone know everything about the English language, I don’t think so. All, I know that I know enough SQL to get my answers from the data which I am working on, the same way I know enough English to have communication going with others.
SQL is fun to learn if you start learning from the right content. Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. When I started learning in college about SQL, we had 600 pages big book on the subject, I got scared just by looking at the book. But, as I started working on it and started actually coding one concept at a time, it got easy.
I have been working on SQL on and off for the last 10 years. Here and then I try to brush up my skills and learn something new about SQL. Being said that, I have searched the internet hundreds of times looking for good learning content on SQL. I have done some paid courses on Udemy and FREE ones, which I will share in the post.
I wish I didn’t have to look so much but in the end, I am glad I found these websites. Having done many courses, the below two websites are by far the most useful learning platforms for SQL, at least to me.
I recommend these courses to anyone who is just a beginner, just want to practice or want to strengthen the SQL skills.
Dev Gym platform by Oracle, it’s the best website to start learning SQL and then take it to the next level. Even if you have done SQL before, you will find lots of new content here.
I was looking for a good SQL analytics course online to practice advanced SQLs and somehow ended up on the Oracle Dev Gym platform. I signed up and started the class Analytic SQL for Developers. And I loved it. I learned a lot about partitioning, windowing, and how to use the analytical function for solving the analytical or reporting questions.
After completing the course, I thought why not brush up my basics again and then completed Databases for Developers: Foundations. This would be the best course to start if you are new to SQL
Oracle guys have done a very good job of structuring the classes. I like the pattern they have built for studying.
- First, you will watch 5-10 mins of learning videos
- Second, you will have material and data ready to practice
- Third, you do the quizzes and apply your knowledge
It would take me around half an hour to finish one topic. The new topic will mostly start by revising what we have studied previously. Material is also focused around the scenario-based, exactly like in real-time projects.
- The course is built by Oracle guys
- Its ALL FREE
- You don’t need to install anything
- You get completion Certification (you can checkout mine)
- The content is rich
- You can not only take classes but also do quizzes
- Real world scenarios covered with basics
- You have to navigate between multiple browser tabs to run the queries
All you need is an internet connection.
If you are really new to SQL then complete the courses in this sequence.
What if,
- You just want to try some SQL coding.
- You do not have a database installed on your machine.
- You need some data to practice on
Worry not, Oracle has you covered. You can do all of that on Oracle Live SQL platform for FREE.
Once you have completed your basics and if you are ready to take it to the next level then become a hacker. Improve your coding on HackerRank.
HackerRank is another great platform for SQL developers. You will find hundreds of quizzes on different SQL topics for all levels.
Some of the advanced quizzes had me scratching my head for hours.
Did I forget to say, it’s FREE for all.
SQL was at the top of the list of most demanding coding languages according to Dice ( Read more..). SQL is a must to know language for almost all the applications store data in some kind of database and you should know SQL to read and understand that data.
I have been working on SQL, on and off, for the last 10 years. I have done some paid and free courses online to improve my coding skills. Being said that, I have found Oracle’s Dev Gym platform is by far the most useful one. The classes well-formatted, there are classes for all levels, you don’t need to install anything, you can practice and do the quizzes, you get the completion certification from Oracle, and All For FREE.
I recommend to check out these courses and websites,
- If you are a beginner in SQL then start here: Database Foundation Class
- For Analytical / Reporting Functions start here: Analytics for Developers
- If you want to practice and need some data: Oracle’s Live SQL platform
- If you want to take it up a notch and do quizzes: HackerRank
I learned quite a lot from these platforms, especially the analytics course on Oracle’s Dev Gym website. I hope this will help you too. I would love to know if you have any other FREE or PAID SQL courses which you can recommend. Let me know your thoughts in comments.
Books I recommend to all
