myke (8/7/2008)
I think the most important thing, is actually doing it.One of the biggest problems i've seen people face learning SQL is that they'll have the technical aspects nailed down pretty well, but they just don't quite "get it". Knowing how to select data is one thing, but being able to sit down and think about what data to pull out and how is another.
Definately use the tutorials and any educational material that works for you - but use that as a starting point. Play around with it a little bit, come up with queries on your own to see what you can do. Try to think of real-life scenarios, and see if you can come up with solutions on your own. Then try to find alternative solutions to the same problem.
Experience > Education a good majority of the time.
Definitely good advice.
I keep a Proof of Concept database. Use it to test new ideas, help on stuff on this page, etc.
I'm always building new tables in there, and then testing all kinds of options on querying them.
On the subject of experience vs education, I think both works best. Best cycle I've ever seen is educate, get experience, educate again, rinse, repeat.
People with no education gain experience more slowly. People with some experience educate more rapidly. But, since you have to start somewhere, some slight education is a great place to start.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon