Re: A database theory resource - ideas
From: Bruce C. Baker <bcbakerXX_at_cox.net>
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:20:42 -0500
Message-ID: <InHKh.381$s8.380_at_newsfe21.lga>
>> "Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>> news:yaGKh.11280$PV3.116035_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>>
>>>Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>>>>news:TWFKh.11276$PV3.115808_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>>>>
>>>>>Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>>>>
>>>><snip>
>>>>
>>>>>>Lots and lots of simple, tightly-focused examples. Think "RDBMS for
>>>>>>Dummies"! :-)
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't see how that will help anyone learn to think in the abstract.
>>>>>If one can only understand recipes, one can go work for a restaurant.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>A short, simple example can sometimes bring home the point of a long and
>>>>detailed technical explanation. One reinforces the other. Don't take my
>>>>"RDBMS for Dummies" suggestion /too/ seriously! :-)
>>>>
>>>>The "... for Dummies" books can indeed be too simplistic, but as a
>>>>/starting point/ for a complete newbie, they serve very well.
>>>
>>>The single biggest problem in our industry is a lack of fundamental
>>>knowledge and basic education. A recipe book and examples will do nothing
>>>to address the problem and will serve only to perpetuate it.
>>
>> Agreed.
>>
>> Bob, have you ever read a "... for Dummies" book? If so, you'd know that
>> they're /primers/, not cookbooks.
>>
>> I stand by my statement that a concrete example can reinforce and
>> complement an abstract technical explanation.
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:20:42 -0500
Message-ID: <InHKh.381$s8.380_at_newsfe21.lga>
"Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:SIGKh.11289$PV3.116242_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>> "Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>> news:yaGKh.11280$PV3.116035_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>>
>>>Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Bob Badour" <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
>>>>news:TWFKh.11276$PV3.115808_at_ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>>>>
>>>>>Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>>>>
>>>><snip>
>>>>
>>>>>>Lots and lots of simple, tightly-focused examples. Think "RDBMS for
>>>>>>Dummies"! :-)
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't see how that will help anyone learn to think in the abstract.
>>>>>If one can only understand recipes, one can go work for a restaurant.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>A short, simple example can sometimes bring home the point of a long and
>>>>detailed technical explanation. One reinforces the other. Don't take my
>>>>"RDBMS for Dummies" suggestion /too/ seriously! :-)
>>>>
>>>>The "... for Dummies" books can indeed be too simplistic, but as a
>>>>/starting point/ for a complete newbie, they serve very well.
>>>
>>>The single biggest problem in our industry is a lack of fundamental
>>>knowledge and basic education. A recipe book and examples will do nothing
>>>to address the problem and will serve only to perpetuate it.
>>
>> Agreed.
>>
>> Bob, have you ever read a "... for Dummies" book? If so, you'd know that
>> they're /primers/, not cookbooks.
>>
>> I stand by my statement that a concrete example can reinforce and
>> complement an abstract technical explanation.
> > Yes, I have. And I have spent countless hours evaluating various books on > the subject of databases. One will find any number of cookbooks full of > concrete. One can go to any bookstore and clear out 99% of the computer > science section without losing anything worthwhile.
I wholeheartedly agree. Computer science publishing is not what it once was.
Some examples of the ("classic" or current, database-related or otherwise) one percent that doesn't suck are ...?
> > Even as vocational training books, they suck. > > Teach fundamentals and principles. Start small and build. Anything else is > a waste or worse.
"We don't need no stinkin' principles. We gotta get that app out /yesterday!" *Sigh* Received on Sat Mar 17 2007 - 02:20:42 CET