comparing versions of sql

[Jim Maas]

I'm taking up a new position and have never used sql before although use
and code in lots of other languages. When doing a bit of survey I find
many many versions of commercial and public versions of sql. Can anyone
tell me if the syntax is generally similar or are they completely
different. If I invest time learning mysql on XP or Linux will that be
useful if I end up using something like Oracle later on? The only one I
would avoid is MS.... like things that work occasionally.

Thanks for all advice and if there is a web page or summary somewhere
else please pass this on to me.

Thanks and Very Best Regards

Jim

ja****@btinternet.com

[Aggro]

Jim Maas wrote:

I'm taking up a new position and have never used sql before although use
and code in lots of other languages. When doing a bit of survey I find
many many versions of commercial and public versions of sql. Can anyone
tell me if the syntax is generally similar or are they completely
different. If I invest time learning mysql on XP or Linux will that be
useful if I end up using something like Oracle later on? The only one I
would avoid is MS.... like things that work occasionally.

If you don't have any experience in sql, then using MySQL would endeed
help with learning Oracle or other database later. The basic syntax and
functionality of databases is always similar. Most of the queries you
write for MySQL might work on Oracle without changing them at all.

Also the most important thing to learn, how databases are used in
general, is similar on all platforms. After you have learned that and
the basic syntax, it should be pretty easy to do basic operations on any
database.

What is different between databases are usually some functions that
database provides to help with queries. These functions can do anything
from solving mathematical problems to working with strings. Usually
there is no harm in learning functions for one database. That just helps
you to find similar functions on another database.

[Aggro]

Jim Maas wrote:

I'm taking up a new position and have never used sql before although use
and code in lots of other languages. When doing a bit of survey I find
many many versions of commercial and public versions of sql. Can anyone
tell me if the syntax is generally similar or are they completely
different. If I invest time learning mysql on XP or Linux will that be
useful if I end up using something like Oracle later on? The only one I
would avoid is MS.... like things that work occasionally.

If you don't have any experience in sql, then using MySQL would endeed
help with learning Oracle or other database later. The basic syntax and
functionality of databases is always similar. Most of the queries you
write for MySQL might work on Oracle without changing them at all.

Also the most important thing to learn, how databases are used in
general, is similar on all platforms. After you have learned that and
the basic syntax, it should be pretty easy to do basic operations on any
database.

What is different between databases are usually some functions that
database provides to help with queries. These functions can do anything
from solving mathematical problems to working with strings. Usually
there is no harm in learning functions for one database. That just helps
you to find similar functions on another database.

[Aggro]

Jim Maas wrote:

I'm taking up a new position and have never used sql before although use
and code in lots of other languages. When doing a bit of survey I find
many many versions of commercial and public versions of sql. Can anyone
tell me if the syntax is generally similar or are they completely
different. If I invest time learning mysql on XP or Linux will that be
useful if I end up using something like Oracle later on? The only one I
would avoid is MS.... like things that work occasionally.

If you don't have any experience in sql, then using MySQL would endeed
help with learning Oracle or other database later. The basic syntax and
functionality of databases is always similar. Most of the queries you
write for MySQL might work on Oracle without changing them at all.

Also the most important thing to learn, how databases are used in
general, is similar on all platforms. After you have learned that and
the basic syntax, it should be pretty easy to do basic operations on any
database.

What is different between databases are usually some functions that
database provides to help with queries. These functions can do anything
from solving mathematical problems to working with strings. Usually
there is no harm in learning functions for one database. That just helps
you to find similar functions on another database.