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Priority of skill development

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    Priority of skill development

    I've been coding in xbasic for a few years now, and I'm able to do or learn how to do what I need.

    I'm just beginning to learn SQL, but none of my projects use SQL yet. I'm wondering about the priority of improving these skills:

    Xbasic
    SQL
    JavaScript
    HTML
    CSS

    I think I may not need much HTML or CSS because of the availability of templates.

    I'd appreciate any input.

    Thanks,

    Rob

    #2
    Re: Priority of skill development

    Good question but for me you can split into three distinct sections to start with.

    First off, the back end database specific skill sets and secondly the front end specific skill sets. and finally the user experience.

    The more I can achieve on the back end the better and the less strain on the front end. So SQL techniques, procedures, functions, views etc but then you need to have xbasic skills AND javascript knowledge to make the connections sing!

    HTML/CSS are dark arts that are needed most of all so that the end user sees what they should see in the best possible.

    So using a three legged stool analogy and assigning each of these areas to a leg, if you are short in one area the stool will topple....

    Does not mean you have to be super efficient in each area but you do need to pay attention to all. For me the HTML/CSS is my weakest area and I recognised the large amount of time it will take to sort that so I look for solutions elsewhere until that day arrives when I can call myself a CSS Ninja!
    Glen Schild



    My Blog

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Priority of skill development

      Thanks, Glen. That's pretty much where my head is - you need all of these skills.

      Lots to learn!

      --Rob

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Priority of skill development

        Glen makes a good point. I use SQL more than xBasic. I would say SQL, JavasScript, xBasic, HTML, CSS. You can get a free copy of MS SQL express and build a simple ux with a list control and entry form.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Priority of skill development

          Thanks, Lee; is ms sql better than mysql?

          --Rob

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Priority of skill development

            I've been using MS SQL for 20+ years. I've been able to handle all of the user's requirements. I've never used MY SQL.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Priority of skill development

              Rob

              Consider MariaDB. It's free (most are, of course) and is identical to MySQL. MariaDB is open source, whereas MySQL is Oracle. Giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter are on MariaDB or MySQL. Some say it's easier to use than MS SQL Server. People have their personal preferences.
              Peter
              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

              [email protected]
              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


              Comment


                #8
                Re: Priority of skill development

                Thank you Peter I will definitely consider it.

                Rob

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Priority of skill development

                  Rob,

                  I have used both MS Sql (+20 years) and MySql (4 years) and in my experience MS Sql have distinct advantages over MySql.

                  For smaller projects, I always use MS SQL Express edition, its 100% free, it is identical to the Sql Server Standard version, and be be upgraded automatically if needed. I has a few limitations, mainly 10 GB database size, which is a lot of data, and a memory cap of 1 GB, that is normally not an issue unless you have a lot of concurrent users, and then you can normally afford to pay for a license.

                  MySql / MariaDb is popular because it's free and have no database or memory limits, BUT, nothing is ever free, and you will still need some Mysql specific skills to make it work properly, choose datafile format, setup cache etc. as opposed to Sql Server Express that is much more fire and forget.

                  Sql server also have better view management, more advanced datatypes, and it supports Json data types natively from v. 2016.

                  If possible always setup a separate database server with minimum 4 GB of Ram, also for Sql server Express, it will perform better.

                  You can also download the Northwind Sql server database from Microsoft, it's not 100% best practice, but it's good for demos, testing and understanding basic database concepts, and it's used in a lot of Alpha videos....

                  Nils

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Priority of skill development

                    Thanks, Nils! Great info!

                    --Rob

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Priority of skill development

                      I'm with Lee (mostly). MS SQL Server is extremely powerful with it's triggers and stored procedures (another word for programmability(as it called in MS SQL Server)), AA is cushioning the need to learn a lot of this by generating the code for you, but its very light on. So you might as well learn it in the database, so pick a database you think will suit your abilities and the outcomes YOU require - In the last 15 years in what we develop the database does 90% of the heavy lifting, without understanding the programmability of as database like MS SQL Server - i'd be washing cars for a living.
                      Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                      Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                      US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Priority of skill development

                        Originally posted by peteconway View Post
                        I'm with Lee (mostly). MS SQL Server is extremely powerful with it's triggers and stored procedures (another word for programmability(as it called in MS SQL Server)), AA is cushioning the need to learn a lot of this by generating the code for you, but its very light on. So you might as well learn it in the database, so pick a database you think will suit your abilities and the outcomes YOU require - In the last 15 years in what we develop the database does 90% of the heavy lifting, without understanding the programmability of as database like MS SQL Server - i'd be washing cars for a living.
                        Bet they would be the cleanest cars in Victoria :-)

                        And don't forget sql functions which really elevate the programming to another level!
                        Glen Schild



                        My Blog

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Priority of skill development

                          Got it sorted.. New High Tech approach.
                          566221607.jpg
                          Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                          Albert Einstein, (attributed)
                          US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Priority of skill development

                            Thank you, Peter! Do you build applications and proggram directly in the database in situations where you could write code in Alpha to do the same thing?

                            Thanks,

                            Rob

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Priority of skill development

                              Rob,

                              I can't answer for Peter, but I personally do all the Sql coding and database work in Sql Server Management Studio, part of the Sql Server install. It's much better to use the built in functions like views, stored procedures, triggers (If you know how and when NOT to) , and User defined functions

                              The performance will be much better, and it's also much easier to debug a stored procedure in Sql Server and making sure it works before calling it in Alpha.

                              In Short, use Alpha for what it's really good at, designing applications, and create the database foundation first in Sql Server, or MySql or whatever suits you best

                              Nils

                              Comment

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