SQL Server Database Developer Role Dying?

  • I just wanted to get some opinions from other database professionals. My current employer is trying to convince our DB group SQL Server is a dying technology and open source is the way to go. I feel within a year or so my role will be phased out. Considering I have 15 years left in my working carrier, this has me thinking. I am working primarily in SSIS, SSRS, T-SQL dev. Thanks all for your feedback.

  • Hahahaha

    No. SQL Server is not dying. I see more and more people shying away from those open source technologies and coming to SQL Server every day. Those platforms are good for some things, but they work best when used in conjunction with SQL Server or some other major RDBMS.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
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    SQL RNNR
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  • I see steadily increasing demand for SQL Server professionals, it is the de facto database platform for small and medium enterprises, and one of M$ best money buckets.

    😎

  • First off I think Database Developers and Database Administrators are quite different positions, though most smaller companies tend to lump both into one position or group. In our group it's me and one other DBA, but he does more of the admin work and I the development work, though we both can back each other up as needed.

    Either way I think the demand for database professionals is increasing and not dying. With HA, clustering, virtualization, and all the new features coming down the pipe with any RDBMS DB administration is becoming more than just sitting back and waiting for something to break.

    As for development, likewise I'm seeing many more tasks coming up for developers with a strong knowledge of database design and architecture like interacting with data via SOAP/JSON, ETL processes, replication, data analysis, and much more. When I think of tasks like these I think of someone with both a strong DB background and development background because often you have to branch into adding capabilities to SQL via CLR or other non-traditional facets. For example one project I have is creating a real-time replication process between a SQL Server database and CRM which requires that everything pass through a web service. Standard replication won't work, so I'm having to find some unique methods to make it happen. This is something that only someone with both a keen knowledge of SQL could tackle, in my opinion anyway.

    So contrary to what your employer is saying I think the database roles are becoming more needed not less.

  • I strongly feel the same. In fact, we needed another DBD in the recent past and couldn't find one so our HR paid for a study using Dice. They found 5 jobs for every DBD looking. That stat alone should be my answer. I guess I'm just looking for conformation from other database developers especially. I considered moving towards administrator but I'm a developer at heart and hope to not be pushed out lol.

  • A lot of smaller companies are trying to tighten their purse strings, thus the drive towards the open source items. The new tech is also nice and shiny.

    DBD vs. DBA has always been a curiousity, and you'll always need some admin under your belt as a dev if for no other reason than so you know how not to drive your admins crazy.

    However, no, there's plenty of work out there. A huge amount of it is contractor though.


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  • Evil Kraig F (6/18/2014)


    A lot of smaller companies are trying to tighten their purse strings, thus the drive towards the open source items.

    And then they realise how much you have to pay for a good open source developer/admin! πŸ™‚

    It's definitely worth installing & playing with at least one open source alternative to SQL. They are free, after all.

    However, no, there's plenty of work out there. A huge amount of it is contractor though.

    Yep, I was recently looking for a permanent SQL DBA role, plenty of them going, plus DBD's & BI roles.

    You tend to find they're all listed under 'DBA' though.

  • david.tyler (6/18/2014)


    My current employer is trying to convince our DB group SQL Server is a dying technology and open source is the way to go.

    So what's his motivation here, I wonder...

    "SQL Server is dying, therefore all of you have outdated skills, therefore I can justify smaller raises/bonuses"

    "Damn, these licenses are expensive. I know, let's use free open source. If I scare the devs, they'll learn in in their free time and I won't have to pay for training"

    πŸ˜€

    Yes, I'm a cynic.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
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  • LOL Gila, thank you for the good laugh but I have to agree with your assessment. This whole thing is about cost.

  • GilaMonster (6/19/2014)


    david.tyler (6/18/2014)


    My current employer is trying to convince our DB group SQL Server is a dying technology and open source is the way to go.

    So what's his motivation here, I wonder...

    "SQL Server is dying, therefore all of you have outdated skills, therefore I can justify smaller raises/bonuses"

    "Damn, these licenses are expensive. I know, let's use free open source. If I scare the devs, they'll learn in in their free time and I won't have to pay for training"

    πŸ˜€

    Yes, I'm a cynic.

    However, one of the responsibilities as a professional is to learn other technologies on your own. It does no good to wait for an employer to pay for you to learn something new. You need to get out and do it yourslef. It may make you more employable.

    I am NOT saying that Gail is not employable! It's just the general idea of taking control of your own career. :Whistling:

  • OCTom (6/19/2014)


    GilaMonster (6/19/2014)


    david.tyler (6/18/2014)


    My current employer is trying to convince our DB group SQL Server is a dying technology and open source is the way to go.

    So what's his motivation here, I wonder...

    "SQL Server is dying, therefore all of you have outdated skills, therefore I can justify smaller raises/bonuses"

    "Damn, these licenses are expensive. I know, let's use free open source. If I scare the devs, they'll learn in in their free time and I won't have to pay for training"

    πŸ˜€

    Yes, I'm a cynic.

    However, one of the responsibilities as a professional is to learn other technologies on your own. It does no good to wait for an employer to pay for you to learn something new. You need to get out and do it yourslef. It may make you more employable.

    I am NOT saying that Gail is not employable! It's just the general idea of taking control of your own career. :Whistling:

    My 2 cents;

    With any responsibilities there must be equal power, if it is unilateral, it does not qualify. Far to many are drowning in day to day noise without the opportunity to progress. One can equally state that it is the responsibility of the employer to keep the employees up to date.

    😎

  • Someone once said 'Never put down to enemy action anything that can be adequately explained as incompetence'.

    The statement 'SQL Server is dying, the future is open source' seems a bit short of logical reasoning. Even if the statement had been 'SQL Server is expensive, the future direction is to use MariaDB' there may (just) be a logical reason, but the statement still lacks rigour.

    If your manager's main concern is to reduce costs, the strategy is likely to be effective. Those experienced people with good skills (and good domain knowledge) will find other jobs, and new people with lower level of skills (and no domain knowledge) attracted by the lower salaries on offer will replace them. The end result is unlikely to help the business.

    My suggestion is to try to engage with your managers. Organise some meetings where the issues they see can be aired, and their suggestions for the future discussed. Any competent manager concerned to give a high quality service to the business should welcome this type of discussion.

    If everybody in the team understands the problems and supports a solution that both deals with the problems and improves what can be delivered to the business, then people can continue to have pride and confidence in the work they are doing.

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