InstantForum.NET v2.9.0SQLServerCentralhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comSat, 25 May 2013 17:54:41 GMT20http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI would probably say if i stopped working tomorrow i'd still be interested in database technology and how it evolves. SQL Server per se...am not so sure..bcoz sql is a product, and products just go on changing..and can get replaced by a competing product even. What you learn about a product maybe upto you but how you manifest it is hugely dependant on some business putting it to use...i am reminded of a friend who knew sql server 2000 in and out, even co authored couple of books. He had to take a one year break to take care of a terminally ill parent..when he got back lot of what he knew was not of much use at all. He went to a training class to pick up new skills and found himself a job. Now he is kinda determined to learn what the job needs, a little more but not treat this as a passion like it was music or painting or some other...those skills also need polishing if you are out of touch but hey you can paint or sing for your own pleasure, or for the pleasure of your loved ones..not sure of that with SQL!!Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:51:51 GMTdma-669038http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxProbably not. So many opportunities, so little time.Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:56:01 GMTJo Pattynhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI've burned out on programming before, so I don't really do much development or SQL at home anymore. It used to be fascinating, exciting, but with the corporate rules and deadlines conflicting, so much of it is frustrating that I've turned to other interests at home.I probably wouldn't abandon SQL, but I'd scale back 50%, and work 20 hours a week on a single contract that grabbed my attention for philanthropic reasons. I'd probably donate my time to a charity. Why abandon a great tool just because it defined 40-50 hours a week? Put that knowledge to use in a new area - and make it interesting again.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:19:39 GMTmarkjholmeshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI would step back a little and see why..SQL Server is a commercial product. If i were teaching Shakespeare or Music say, for a living,and someone asked me same question..probably the answer would be no, i love shakespeare and i love music and i would keep doing it regardless of whether I needed the money or not. But would MS manufacture the product if there was no money in it? Absolutely, No. So why would i dabble and learn even more? Even if were a geek like some folks are and love dabbling with the insides of code and hardware and what makes the thing tick, if i did not need the money - no sorry it wouldn't be SQL Server, it would probably be some sort of freeware. The cause is related to the origin, there is no separating it.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:19:25 GMTdma-669038http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI feel like I had to really fight to become a DBA, I started out as an involuntary DBA but I found after a couple years that the SQL part of my job was what I enjoyed the most. But I had to constantly fight to stay a DBA. I constantly had a double work load, and my first company would view my DBA work as a carrot, instead of an essential role I was filling. I like learning about SQL, I like presenting and talking about it. And if you gave me millions I would keep working long enough to get my Business set up, Insurance for my family, and then I would have a very expensive lab, and I would subsidies my continued learning and travel around speaking and training people on SQL.I love writing, and I'll probably work to publish my non-fiction books one day. I love collecting comic books, I would probably do that. I wouldn't be on call, evenings would belong to my family. I'd take summers off when my kids where out of school, (with the exception of the occasional SQL Saturday), and we would have really nice vacations.But SQL is what I chose to work with, and I would want to keep working with it.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:30:21 GMTSQLBallshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxNo. I would go into full-time vocational ministry working with children and youth. I love SQL Server and IT in general, but trying to find a balance between working IT and doing ministry is always a struggle.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:29:30 GMTK. Brian Kelleyhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxNot ever again, not even for pleasure.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:48:47 GMTrobert.harrisonhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxYes - I would continue to do SQL in some degree or another. Probably would even continue to work.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:53:19 GMTSQLRNNRhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxPhotography. I would love to return to professional photography again. And. music. I'd love to pursue playing trumpet professionally. And, fishing. There's nothing better than reeling in a lunker bass or a 45" muskelunge.And, and, and... there are too many other activities that I'd love to pursue to do anything I.T.-related.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:41:30 GMTOCTomhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxProbably. I'd create databases for personal use (Tracking philanthropic interests, etc.). I like to teach but would start some informal users group and try to help out.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:18:13 GMTJeff Oresikhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote]I guess what I have a hard time understanding with people saying they would never touch it again is, do you not enjoy sql? Does it not make your mind think at a blazing pace? Is there no satisfaction you receive out of perf tuning or writing up a really neat chunk of code?[/quote]Like I said before I truly love what I do at work and I am privelaged to say that I get to do something I enjoy for a living. When I am not at work however it is completly different. I have too many other things I would rather spend my time doing. I understand your comment about sitting on the couch when you get home the difference is that I am sitting with my wife not my laptop and I am certainly not doing any work. I may never make six figures and I am ok with that but when I leave at 5 I stop being a DBA and return to my prefered position of husband father and freind. I may not get a monitary pay for them but I would still say I get paid better for them. Just my two cents. I am not trying to challenge any one nor am I suggesting your family is not important to you. Everyone has to find a balance that works in their family.Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:28:04 GMTDan.Humphrieshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote][b]trstringer (3/21/2011)[/b][hr]I guess what I have a hard time understanding with people saying they would never touch it again is, do you not enjoy sql? Does it not make your mind think at a blazing pace? Is there no satisfaction you receive out of perf tuning or writing up a really neat chunk of code?In my opinion there are different types of hobbies. There's the physical one: people enjoy hiking, surfing, running, basketball...whatever gets your body moving and you enjoy. Then there's that "other" side...music, art..the abstract and subjective aspect of life. But sql and other forms of technical challenges is what gives guys like us the satisfaction of the binary aspect of life. There is a time for it all. I am sure a bunch of us like to relax at night on the couch with the laptop while coding, or optimizing a database with a frosty beer cracked open. I know I really get a kick out of it.[/quote]Since I answered "not a chance in h3ll..." I will reply. In all honesty, I classify SQL (and work) as a necessary evil. I enjoy aspects of the work, but I would never be able to get a job just doing the good bits. If SQL did not pay as well as it does, I would not be doing it now. I would much rather be trying to figure out how to make my race/rally car go just that little bit better. been sat behind a desk for too long now (13 years - I feel :sick:), its time to get out and see the world........... so whos got my millions :cool:Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:13:48 GMTgrahamchttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Craig Farrell (3/21/2011)[/b][hr]It's a lot of work to try to get on top of everything going on, ... You have to deduce and guess at what business really wanted, turn that into usable product, and then try to calm them when it's not exactly what they had in mind and they still have to do work...[/quote]I hear that! I've TOLD customers that their specs won't produce accurate results. I've given stats showing how inaccurate it is. They insist. My manager tells me, you've done everything you can to warn them, just build it. I do.Huh, they aren't happy with me because the data is inaccurate.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:32:28 GMTKen Lee-263418http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxShort answer: It depends... ;-) Seriously, though, no, not really.It's a lot of work to try to get on top of everything going on, especially in 3 year life cycles, and to stay there. You have to deduce and guess at what business really wanted, turn that into usable product, and then try to calm them when it's not exactly what they had in mind and they still have to do work. I could also do with never having a 3AM call again because something went kaput.I'd probably use it still to track some of my gaming data (I get kinda insane with my games occassionally), and maybe some stock market tracking and trending... but no, not really.I do SQL, in particular MS SQL, because it gets me paid. I want to get better because that'll pay me better, primarily. Pride and satisfaction are nice secondary benefits. If I had other options that would pay better and be equivalent in satisfaction, I'd switch. I've chosen a career... it's not my life. I'd spend more time living, less time working.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:12:03 GMTEvil Kraig Fhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI guess what I have a hard time understanding with people saying they would never touch it again is, do you not enjoy sql? Does it not make your mind think at a blazing pace? Is there no satisfaction you receive out of perf tuning or writing up a really neat chunk of code?In my opinion there are different types of hobbies. There's the physical one: people enjoy hiking, surfing, running, basketball...whatever gets your body moving and you enjoy. Then there's that "other" side...music, art..the abstract and subjective aspect of life. But sql and other forms of technical challenges is what gives guys like us the satisfaction of the binary aspect of life. There is a time for it all. I am sure a bunch of us like to relax at night on the couch with the laptop while coding, or optimizing a database with a frosty beer cracked open. I know I really get a kick out of it.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:01:38 GMTThomas Stringerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxNo, my plans for retirement do not include any programming whatsoever. :-DMon, 21 Mar 2011 12:35:35 GMTrperez 98567http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Lowell (3/21/2011)[/b][hr]Ever since I won the lottery, the only reason I hang out around here is so I can have friends....[/quote]I can't figure out if this is a joke, or if I should come visit...Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:05:25 GMTjcrawf02http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI can't say for certain, please send me several million dollars to test my theory. I doubt I would work as much, but I would probably continue to work, but for different people. I would want to use the skills I've gained to do as much good as possible, and so would be looking to help out charities, public interest groups, etc. Really being able to implement something and if it didn't work, just scrap it and try another angle, not worrying about funding would be refreshing.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMTjcrawf02http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxWell this is such a great question ... I think anybody wondered once since turning 30 ... But people usually mix 2 different things: one is stop working and do nothing else than walking, hanging out with friends or with the television AND stop doing what I have to do and do what I like to do. Personnaly, I would stop working in the company that employs me and I would do what I like to. As I like SQL I could certainly do some, but only as a tool if it is the correct tool to solve a particular problem. I would definitely not continue using SQL all the day.rvMon, 21 Mar 2011 10:08:05 GMTrot-717018http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Dan.Humphries (3/21/2011)[/b][hr]While I applaud the dedication many show and I truly love my job it is just that my job. I am lucky enough to have a job I enjoy and I enjoy the activities of a DBA. There is something satisfying in playing detective to hunt down the data elements involved in a poorly performing query and ultimatley improving that query. In the end though if I suddenly found myself wealthy I would walk away and never look back. I do not think about SQL on any level when I am not at the office and in fact I rarely sit down at a computer at home. If I could stop working tomorrow I would never be bored or want for things to do and I would enjoy speding every minute with family and freinds. I love the DBA community as a whole and find this community to be more helpful than many other branches of the IT world. While I hope that some of the contacts I have made throught the SQL community will be among those I account as my friends in that time, the day I retire will be the last time I ever utter the three letters that defines my work life.[/quote]Thanks for saving me some time. Your post almost exactly reflects my thoughts on this subject.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:47:06 GMTGreg Charleshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxEver since I won the lottery, the only reason I hang out around here is so I can have friends....Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:26:03 GMTLowellhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxThere is something funda[i]MENTALLY[/i] wrong, if the best (most enjoyable) way to keep your mind active, is SQL Server :hehe: Given the chance, I would be out in the mountains, no laptop, no iPad, no iPhone..... maybe a GPS navigation device, but thats it ;-)money no object, I would would never touch SQL Server again...........Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:18:16 GMTgrahamchttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxWhile I applaud the dedication many show and I truly love my job it is just that my job. I am lucky enough to have a job I enjoy and I enjoy the activities of a DBA. There is something satisfying in playing detective to hunt down the data elements involved in a poorly performing query and ultimatley improving that query. In the end though if I suddenly found myself wealthy I would walk away and never look back. I do not think about SQL on any level when I am not at the office and in fact I rarely sit down at a computer at home. If I could stop working tomorrow I would never be bored or want for things to do and I would enjoy speding every minute with family and freinds. I love the DBA community as a whole and find this community to be more helpful than many other branches of the IT world. While I hope that some of the contacts I have made throught the SQL community will be among those I account as my friends in that time, the day I retire will be the last time I ever utter the three letters that defines my work life.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:15:52 GMTDan.Humphrieshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI would have a computer room installed on my Yacht so I could stay busy on the open seas, between ports of call.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:58:56 GMTFrank W Fulton Jrhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI am employed with a local government agency for some time. I chose to take database certification training while I because repsonsible for database back end webenabled applications. I was promised increasing responsibilities in this area. I installed, configured and updated these applicationw while maintainging these applications. Our department activities are slowly being farmed out to contractors. I never had the opportunity to develo much but I did have great responsibility in applications which is being given over to these new outside vendors. I like what I do (did) and do not have direction in my "next step" based on what is happening to the work load shift in my agency. My job is scaled down but my interest is not. Does anyone have comments on what direction I may take? This area does not have many opportunities for database administration or devleopment. How can I use my talents to be useful to the agency at this point in time? I have invested time and money into my education. I have tenure here - I am six years from a 20 year retirement threshold I don't want to interrupt.What would you do?? Looking for direction - MichiganMon, 21 Mar 2011 07:49:32 GMTtthomas 63250http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxMy own $0.02, I don't think I'd likely use it anymore. I like SQL just fine, it's a great tool and I enjoy using it where it works but under the scenario described, I'm out. I'd spend a lot more time with my kids, as well as cycling, kayaking and travelling, probably learn to sail and drive a rally car. I really don't see being hands-on with any specific computer technology at that point.Cheers!Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:13:29 GMTNF Scott Smithhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxOf course, but not 40 hours / week.!Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:12:43 GMTNinja's_RGR'ushttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxYes I'd probably continue to do SQL but I'd probably choose to do much more coding (espcially C++).Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:00:30 GMTjay-hhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI can't say I would use SQL Server as I would probably use one of the open source databases (Most likely PostgreSQL) in my own projects due to price.But overall I would use SQL for the retrieval/updating of data. SQL is the best domain specific language for data retrieval/manipulation in a relational database that I have come across as of yet. I find it much more expressive than a procedural/object oriented language for data operations. Although, I think the LINQ is a step in the right direction (though for me it is harder to use than pure SQL, even as the expressions look a lot like SQL).I would not use SQL for business logic, file management, string manipulation, etc. pretty much anything but data retrieval/updating....otherwise it tends to end up a big mess..... Transact-SQL and even Oracle's PL/SQL are crippled compared to almost any object oriented language. Far too many businesses running SQL Server want to put everything in stored procedures, even stuff that shouldn't be. Really there is only so much brain damage concatenating strings to xp_cmdshell and parsing the output for file manipulation that I can take, especially when Java has such a simple, easy to use File class with more controlled error conditions. With the various libraries/facilities for abstractions/string manipulation abilities in most programming language like Java/.NET/Python/Perl/Ruby/etc. I would use them for everything but data retrieval/updating. CHARINDEX, PATEINDEX are pathetic next to the regular expressions in any one of those languages...Currently with business logic on all the systems I have seen, you end up either with highly efficient cut and paste code all over the place (since if you try to put common expressions in UDF you get a huge performance penalty) or a mass of UDF upon UDF and various stored procedures that add layers of inefficiencies. Even if you do stored procedures right and keep things set oriented, you end up having to build temp tables prior to calling the procedures, or have a ton of process keyed tables to keep track of when calling stored procedures. Also, if you really make functionally cohesive stored procedures, then you have to make multiple passes over a dataset (for example if you have 10 formulas and one procedure for each formula that is 10 passes over the same dataset). If you go the more efficient day with one pass, you end up with one super stored procedure perhaps with many parameters to select which formula to use...but for maintenance this is a horrible situation as now you have 10 reasons to change this one procedure... Procedural and Object Oriented languages are much better at abstracton/code re-use and to me a heck of a lot more maintainable. Really I would abandon SQL for all "off label" uses and the maintenance headache they cause.Going forward, I would probably create a business rules library in an object oriented language for database access that uses dynamic SQL strings (with parameters to protect against SQL injection of course...). Most likely, I would use Python/Ruby for most things and Java where performance matters for all my business logic/file/string manipulation needs. I might even try to make some iPad/iPhone applications, in which case I will be using SQL to query SQLite. I will definitely play more with NoSQL based solutions as well, however I would almost bet a million dollars that SQL will be around for years to come, and I will be using it and relational databases for my data storage needs well into the next 50 years....Definitely if I didn't need to work, I could produce quality applications on my own schedule and focus on quality and doing it right. But also if there is brain damage to maintain the application, then I won't do it on my own because it will be too much like my past employment....Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:40:46 GMTChristopher Fieldhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxIt would be a hobby, something I'd continue to play around with.Along with Sharepoint and Cubes.But I have to admit, I'd spend more time out on the water.And enjoy life with less pressures and deadlines.Greg EMon, 21 Mar 2011 06:26:30 GMTGreg Edwards-268690http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI think you're all sad, and need to get a life ;-) (only joking)If I could give up work, I'd be overjoyed at not having to touch SQL ever again.I don't dislike working with it, but there are so many other things I would prefer to spend my life doing.I take bitbucket's point about an active mind staving off Alzhimers, but I think there are more enjoyable ways than SQL of keeping the mind active.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:29:36 GMTIan Scarletthttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI'm a budding iPhone developer. Specifically, I like to build games. So, all being well, that would be what I would do if I could give up the day job. However, I'd choose SQLite as the storage mechanism because SQL is, well, so fundamentally cool.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:35:33 GMTMichael Lysonshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI'd be using MySQL and writing WordPress plugins for my hobby web sites but even then I find SSIS such a useful tool that I can't see me getting away from it completely. I would love to get away from formal paid work as an employee but maybe do the odd little web site or database job for a friend as a freelance. Otherwise I've too many hobbies to want to go to work.Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:07:00 GMTP Joneshttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI'd definately travel the world, wacht all those series I wanted to see, play all those games I've wanted to play, but after a few months/years, when the boredom kicks in, I think I would go back to work. With SQL BI of course :-)Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:07:55 GMTKoen Verbeeckhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI have a number of interests outside the SQL world, classical and jazz music being some of them. Even then, I would probably tinker around SQL Server and Visual Studio (or whatever they might call it in the eventual years) keeping my development skills as sharp as 'enlightened' age can :-).Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:32:19 GMTgabriel.defigueiredohttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx[quote]"Tomorrow morning, you wake up and find you have enough money never to have to work another day. [/quote]Retired 3 years ago, after having been first introduced to databases via a relational DB utilized by Hewlett Packard. Developed in that ancient, oh so ancient technology, a complete General Ledger Accounting System. And then on to SQL 6.5 those many long years ago marveling at its strengths to do what I had done in a relational DB. Now keep active here an at home with SQL 2005/2008 for the shear joy of it. Many years ago read an article in a British Medical journal, (the Lancet, if memory does not fail me). To wit, an active mind reduces the chances of suffering from old age diseases such as Alzhimers. And so with that element I consider learning and using T-SQL as a form of medication (self prescribed and hence inexpensive).But most importantly ... It is funSun, 20 Mar 2011 10:16:52 GMTbitbucket-25253http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxI started with SQL (Oracle 5.0) in 1989 and got hooked quickly. I am amazed with the new VERBS and methods you can now do, but for the most part it still consistently the same. I would go through some "withdrawals" and would have to slowly move away - such an addiction. I would like to teach and share all my depth of knowledge but I must first complete my MBA.Sun, 20 Mar 2011 08:26:21 GMTdrwhitakerhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxActually, I have stopped working: I retired. I started with Sql 4.21. My last install, for pay, was 2008. For the last 10+ years I have had a home network where I would test what I couldn't at work. My wife and I travel a couple of times a year, but we mostly hang around home. I've tried hobbies, photography, model planes, but enjoy working with Sql. Must be in my DNA. On occasion I help out friends, that are still working, just to stay busy. There's just so much TV I can watch.Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:29:36 GMTrobert-1156487http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspxNo. I would study to be a pilot. Then buy a plane and fly myself around the world. Forget sailing!Sat, 19 Mar 2011 22:16:25 GMTJames Stoverhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1080871-263-1.aspx@trstringwer- excellent, and very well said!Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:27:48 GMTWayneS