Re: newbie-desc command

Me wrote:

> On Tue, 20 May 2003 15:47:17 -0700, Daniel Morgan wrote:
>
> >Me wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, 20 May 2003 10:42:04 -0700, Daniel Morgan wrote:
> >> :<snip>
> >>
> >> They (and even the syllabus) tend to focus more on the theory and ER
> >> diagrams etc. and less on actually implementing it in a real language
> >> such as SQL.
> >> Are they right, in a way?
> >>
> >> In your opinion what needs more focus? :)
> >>
> >> Thanks a lot.
> >
> >My answer is both.
>
> Very deplomatic ? :)
>
> Knowsing and understanding what a primary key is, is one part of it.
> Not knowing which query to pass in SQL to find which one is the
> primary key is another aspect.
>
> Using relational operators, understanding them is one part. Then using
> the same concept and passing a query in SQL is another.
>
> Writing ER diagrams is one part. Not having the slightest idea of what
> complications are involved in _actually_ creating the tables in SQL is
> another.
>
> In an Engineering course (1 semester) , with 3 projects and 4 other
> theory subjects what in your opinion needs more importance/attention?
>
> Thanks for expressing your opinion.

In Oracle it is not sufficient to say ... "build an index to speed up your query." In many cases an index will make things slower. And unlike in some other RDBMS products that question of what kind of index to build is critical. The same goes for tables: What kind of table? As there is more than one.

Theory teaches you how things work. Some classes teach you how to do things. Practical experience teaches which things to do, when, and when it is best to do nothing at all.

--
Daniel Morgan
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/extinfo/certprog/oad/oad_crs.asp
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)