Re: Seeking Advice: MS SQL DBA learning Oracle?

rgaffuri_at_cox.net (Ryan Gaffuri) wrote in message news:<1efdad5b.0205121459.cd19ffe_at_posting.google.com>...
> You have IT experience which is VERY good. However, you must start as
> a developer and NOT as a DBA. There are no entry level DBA jobs. You
> have to be more of a programmer first for 2-3 years then you may be
> able to move over. Anyone who says you can start as a DBA is either
> lying or an idiot.

Funny thing is that I've started as DBA and learned SQL programming later (and I still do not know Oracle Forms :->). I do not think that this is a usual aproach, but saying something like: "you must start as a developer and NOT as a DBA" is too much generic.

> You can get the Oracle database off of otn.oracle.com for free.
> However, you need Windows 2k to run it and they recommend 512 MB of
> RAM(I think... cant remember).. still running 8i at home.

Oracle 9i works on 256MB RAM with no problem (and no performance, but on toy database it is not an issue).

> Most of the really high end databases are run on some form of Unix.
> Very useful. However, since you will start as a developer, you really
> only need to know how to get around in it.

Is good to know Unix even for developer. We've had (and still have) a lot of problems with database application in Unix environment because of developers had no clue about Unix.

> You will not be a DBA right away. You HAVE to start as a developer.
> Which means do not start by learning about the architecture, or about
> performance tuning, or about how the database actually works. Gonna
> get flamed for that one... those are a bit more advanced.

Yes, I'm going to flame you right now !!! ;-) For all developers: Please read Oracle Concepts. You should know something about architecture of database you're writing for. I'm tired about all that worthless talks about purpose of schemas, why database != schema, why more than one schemas can be in one tablespace, why is not a good idea to put two 30gig database in one instance even if they're on the same DB server etc ...
And performance tuning is indeed the must for any Oracle developer. New developer should start with learning about performance impacts of various SQLs as soon as wrote the first lines of code. Oracle developer without tuning skills is worthless and even dangerous.

--
_________________________________________

Dusan Bolek, Ing.
Oracle team leader

Note: pagesflames_at_usa.net has been cancelled due to changes (maybe we
can call it an overture to bankruptcy) on that server. I'm still using
this email to prevent SPAM. Maybe one day I will change it and have a
proper mail even for news, but right now I can be reached by this
email.