So I have only read the first chapter of my text book and I am already confused. Either this textbook is written poorly or I suck at understanding database concepts but does anyone out there understand them? Is there a place or a book which breaks down SQL into a user friendly style? This book just spams terms and words at me without giving solid examples.

http://www.w3schools.com/sql/default.asp

inb4w3fools

imo you should learn the basics via hands-on examples. afterwards you can learn more advanced stuff and dbms-specific stuff (eg: plsql, optimization, partitions, different kinds of indexes, etc)

if you're reading a textbook, make sure it's a SQL book, not a database book. sounds weird, i know.

this^^
set up a little lamp server and start to fuck with it. maybe xampp?
http://www.apachefriends.org/index.html

It's for a class and so far this shit doesn't make sense. I think the book is written poorly but maybe it's just me. Programming C++ and other stuff makes perfect sense to me but this crap doesn't. haha



I have to turn in class work :/ and it's an internet class so it's not like I can ask my professor for help or to explain it in person.* FML

this book http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/9781439041284

This post was edited by NinjaSushi2 on Feb 3 2014 11:11pm

if the beginning is hard just wait till you get to table joins

well did they give you a server that you can do stuff with, like run sql queries on? or something? If not I'd set one up, imo.

Talk to me on hangouts, I sent you my email.

Maybe you would want to start with the theories before you apply them? Why not start with "Relational Algebra"? When you learn that, it will be easier to learn SQL because you would already have an idea on how simple statements work, like how 'SELECT' filter a table, how it output results into a table and such.. I finished two courses in the university about DBMS's, if you want, you can contact me, and i can share you my notes when I was in college.. :> I definitely like SQL, it's just that it becomes brain wrecking when it comes to very complicated table joins and operations lol

Haha thanks. I think it is the way this book was written. Walls of text and very few picture references explain the concepts. I was thinking about getting another book on SQL and reading that in tandem to give a broader idea. That's if they follow the same idea plan. haha

Ew. imo learning sql first is easier, then use that to learn relational algebra/calculus.