sql vs unix

[nin10do]

i have a job assesment coming up and have a choice of giving the test in sql or unix. i haven't ever used either of the two. which language should i learn?

languages i do know:
assembly
c/c++
and a tiny bit of c#

 

[KDH]

Unix isn't a language, it's an operating system. I'm not really sure how to describe sql, as my exposure to it has been minimal, but you certainly don't write applications in it. I do know it's used to sort through and manipulate databases, and I think that's about it.

 

[DrKupo]

*facepalm*

unix and sql have nothing in common with eachother. sql is a database system, and unix is just unix.

 

[fateastray]

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.

 

[UltraMagnus]

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.

that is rather naieve, very little actually uses M$ access databases, even microsoft doesn't (they make their own flavour of SQL). access is really only used for small databases as it doesn't support more than a few (some would argue one) concurrent users. most database stuff is SQL these days, and a lot of it runs on unix systems.......

 

[nin10do]

yeah i'd obviously be doing one of the data base programming languages on unix (not sure which one yet).

but it seems like more people are supporting sql right now.

btw after this initial assesment they'll go on to train me in c# and .net. now .net is a microsoft thing. so it might be better if i stick with sql for now. instead of unix thing.

 

[Hitto]

I think it's a trick question. If they plan on having you learn microsoft-licensed languages, choosing the unix quiz will mark you as one of those subversive leftists who code this terrorist OS!

Trolling aside, brush up a bit on SQL, it's SUPER easy if you can already code in a C-family language. I mean, in one day, you can be familiar with the basics and a few funky operators. I doubt they'd quiz you on the really ugly stuff.

 

[nin10do]

thanks for the quick replies guys. sql it is. guess i'm still reeling from the long tense interview i just had.

this thread is now about the stupid questions they ask in those interviews and logic tests.

why does a mirror reflect left and right and not up and down... yes they actually asked that.

 

[playallday]

SQL is REALLY easy. You could get most of it within a few days.

 

[m-p{3}]

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.

MS Access databases are only used for a small amount of users through a company. I wouldn't rely on it for business-critical information storage. If you want to build something that could be used corporation-wide, you'll have to go with something more serious.

Oracle
PostgreSQL
MySQL

 

[jesuschristmonke]

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Many SQL DBAs aren't VB devs. And SQL is a big deal. It pays well around these parts.

And it is difficult to learn everything from joined queries to stored procs, impossible in one day.

 

[UltraMagnus]

thanks for the quick replies guys. sql it is. guess i'm still reeling from the long tense interview i just had.

this thread is now about the stupid questions they ask in those interviews and logic tests.

why does a mirror reflect left and right and not up and down... yes they actually asked that.

wtf....

a mirror will always reflect a beam of light so that the incident ray and reflected ray form the same angle to the surface normal, no matter the direction. that is the basic law of specular reflection. I really don't get what they want

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.
MS Access databases are only used for a small amount of users through a company. I wouldn't rely on it for business-critical information storage. If you want to build something that could be used corporation-wide, you'll have to go with something more serious.

Oracle
PostgreSQL
MySQL



QUOTE(jesuschristmonkeyballs @ Jan 14 2009, 05:58 AM) QUOTE(fateastray @ Jan 13 2009, 10:23 AM)

SQL is hardly anything. You could learn it in 1 day. Most database management is through MS Access, and you need VB for that. So if they require SQL-knowledge, they probably want you to know VB too.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Many SQL DBAs aren't VB devs. And SQL is a big deal. It pays well around these parts.

And it is difficult to learn everything from joined queries to stored procs, impossible in one day.

thank you... as I tried to explain, only tinpot companies use MS Access databases.

 

[nin10do]

thanks for the quick replies guys. sql it is. guess i'm still reeling from the long tense interview i just had.

this thread is now about the stupid questions they ask in those interviews and logic tests.

why does a mirror reflect left and right and not up and down... yes they actually asked that.

wtf....

a mirror will always reflect a beam of light so that the incident ray and reflected ray form the same angle to the surface normal, no matter the direction. that is the basic law of specular reflection. I really don't get what they want

yeah it was just one of those stupid questions. they were like if you hold up a newspaper to the mirror the writing is reversed (left to right) but not inverted (up and down)

 

[Hitto]

Dismiss ALL bullshit questions. Go bodhidharma on their ass.