Re: Unemployed programmer seeking advice...

Post #47,501 by admin 7/30/02 3:02:52 PM Reply	Re: Unemployed programmer seeking advice... It seems to me that there is always room for people who can do database programming with a big-system mindset. Learn SQL, and pick up Oracle and learn it (or PostgreSQL, since you can program it in a subset of PL/SQL). If you are going to learn Java, then concentrate on servlets and J2EE. Java isn't a bad skill to have these days. CGI programming... forget it, other than the concepts. Most work nowadays is done with application servers, using ASP, JSP, or the like. Learn the concepts of sessions and cookies, though. C is very useful, as is gag C++. But only if you have to. ;-) If you want to learn OO with something more friendly than Java or C++, try Python or Ruby. Java isn't that bad, but the enormous breadth and depth of the libraries (and their sometimes incomprehensible order) can be daunting. Tier one (definitely marketable): SQL, Oracle, HTML, CSS, Javascript, web programming concepts, Java server-side programming Tier two (workhorses): Perl, C, C++ Tier three (nice to have): CGI programming, Python, Apache configuration, etc. Make sure you know things like build management, source code control, unit/regression testing, and the like... things that all help manage programming so that it doesn't get out of control. By "definitely marketable," I mean things that I see a good demand for on a daily basis. "workhorses" means stuff that a lot of companies use behind the scenes to Get Stuff Done, but doesn't look as good on a resume by itself. "nice to have" is stuff that won't get you a job, but you can still get good concepts from that make you 1) interview better and 2) work better. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #47,506 by tablizer 7/30/02 3:21:00 PM Reply	DB2 versus Oracle (* database programming with a big-system mindset....Learn SQL, and pick up Oracle and learn it *) DB2 might be a good bet. IBM is working hard to take Oracle's turf, and so far is doing a pretty good job at it. Once IBM reaches that "magical PHB short-list" level, demand may sore (relatively speaking). Oracle has too much competition these days. Their glory years are behind them IMO. Their only save is the "lock in" they have generated at big corps (too hard to switch). I have personally thot about going into DB admin, but decided it might bore me. I would rather create instead of be a glass-house-like impedement between developers and the database. Some like that role of gate-keeper, but not me. ________________ oop.ismad.com
Post #47,522 by gdaustin 7/30/02 6:13:56 PM Reply	But tab - you're a shoe in! I think DB Admin would be perfect for you! And believe me, it's not "boring" work. I'm a DB2 DB Admin, but 2 weeks ago, I got to performance tune our SQL Server (fixing some performance problems), and I program in Java (mainly Data Access components that turn table data into objects for programmers), and today I did a Delphi program with table access which reconciles pharmacy claim request/response for batches of claims. So, I think you would be perfect for DB Admin, mainly because most companies CAN'T do without the DB Admin, but programmers are optional. Don't worry, when you're not doing the boring stuff (backups, expanding tablespaces, etc.) you'll be writing programs to verify the integrity of data, fixing data problems, diagnosing DB corruption, etc. With a handle like tablizer, I think DB Admin is perfect for you. Bryce? or Brice? Glen Austin
Post #47,589 by lincoln 7/31/02 10:30:46 AM Reply	Where to get Oracle? Quote: Learn SQL, and pick up Oracle and learn it Where does one get it for home learning? It's not like I can just buy an Oracle database or Oracle software tools off the shelf at CompUSA. lincoln "Four score and seven years ago, I had a better sig"
Post #47,594 by admin 7/31/02 11:02:27 AM Reply	Re: Where to get Oracle? [link\|http://otn.oracle.com/software/products/oracle9i/content.html\|Here]. Free for development: We grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable limited license to use the programs only for purposes of developing and prototyping your applications, and not for any other purpose. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #47,602 by orion 7/31/02 11:40:17 AM Reply	Which is why I like Oracle because they give developers a free copy to learn from. 9i is about three CD-ROMs to download. Hope you have a DSL or faster connection. *I am free now, to choose my own destiny.*
Post #47,694 by tablizer 7/31/02 11:05:52 PM 7/31/02 11:06:26 PM Reply	unless you count time (* because they give developers a free copy to learn from... *) I tried that once, and kept getting "listener" errors. Packaging a complex product with complex interprocess mechanisms meant for overpaid DBA's into a plug-n-play CD set does not seem to work too well. Software that takes up 3 CD's is bound to be a monster. ________________ oop.ismad.com Edited by tablizer July 31, 2002, 11:06:26 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #47,698 by broomberg 7/31/02 11:27:01 PM Reply	Overpaid DBAs? Maybe. Or maybe well valued. Either way, it is a good skillset, but with limited jobs open you really have to work hard to get a position. I'm not a DBA (I pretend to be one when the real DBA isn't around), but it takes me about 10 minutes to install and setup a sample running Oracle instance with the current setup. You no longer have to "create" a database, it copies a precreated one for you. Since I hand crafted my system, it takes about 2 hours for a real one.
Post #47,949 by gdaustin 8/3/02 11:14:23 AM Reply	One More Thing (Favorite saying of Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures, a cartoon that my kids watch) It is niiicceee to be the overpaid DBA. I'm one! And certified, too! One More Thing Companies care about nothing but money. Government cares about data retention. Who do you think wins? Records must be kept. Too expensive to keep them in files, database perfect job! Programs come and go, but data stays around at least for government required retention period. One More Thing Do not badmouth my profffeeeessssiiiiooonnnn! (I'm really getting into this Uncle thing...) Glen Austin (Aka Uncle) (should I change my handle?)

Welcome to IWETHEY!