Re: How DBA stuff should a Developer learn?

"Ryan Gaffuri" <rkg100_at_erols.com> wrote in message news:a60u6k$apv$1_at_bob.news.rcn.net...
> Posted this on .misc by accident. There are alot more DBA's here... so
> decided to try here...
>
> I have been a developer for about 18 months now and Ive started delving
into
> the DBA side of Oracle. I have read the concepts manual and am now reading
> the manual on performance tuning. Ill have to read both of those atleast
> twice to really pick up all the information. Im slowly reading Tom Kyte's
> book as well. Its slow going since most of it is new information.
>
> Ive noticed that many "senior" developers do not bother to learn this side
> of it. What Im learning now is really opening my eyes to alot of things
that
> I just took for granted. I open a cursor, ok it does what I want. Its
pretty
> useful to know what is going on and how its being processed.
>
> I dont think I want to become a DBA. Ill probably head down the data
> modelling/business rules route in time, however, I think that in order to
be
> an elite professional in Oracle I should learn more about the database
side.
>
> Howard Rogers recommended Practical 8i. Does anyone have any other
> recommendations on specifics of what I should learn?

Bear in mind that there are at least 2 types of DBA. (sometimes of course they are the same guy). The first is the dba who maintains and optimises all your production systems. These guys need to be rigourous, methodical and organised. It helps to be pedant too.

There is also however a dba role for development. This guy will lok at things like partitioning options, table design and layout, how to enforce constraints, where and how to index, tuning and modifying pl/sql etc etc as well as physical design and storage considerations. This needs a decent amount of development experience and skill as well as creativity and analytical skills. This guy needs to sit with the developers.My point is of course that this role might also be attractive to you.

--
Niall Litchfield
Oracle DBA
Audit Commission UK
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>

> Also, Im leaning towards getting a Masters in Software Engineering at

George


> Mason... how useful is a Masters in this business? I dont have a CS degree

> and I have found that that limits my options.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Ryan Gaffuri

>

>