- Are there any alternatives to SQL? If yes, which are they?
- I would say the most well-known and widely used alternative to SQL is NoSQL. Sometimes developers prefer NoSQL over SQL simply as these two replenish each other. I mean you can use NoSQL to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages of SQL and vice versa. To be more precise we can show the main differences, the advantages and disadvantages of SQL and NoSQL via a table.
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SQL
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NoSQL
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- Most SQL databases are relational databases that are collections of data items with pre-defined relationships between them. An SQL database is a great fit for the application that needs multi-row transactions. These databases are table-based in the form of rows and columns and strictly adhere to standard schema definitions.
- The syntax of SQL quarries is fixed and it has a standard interface for handling quarries.
- SQL databases aren’t the best fit for hierarchal data storage.
- New data addition in SQL database requires some changes as backfilling data and altering schemas.
Some examples of SQL databases are, MySQL, Oracle, MS-SQL, SQLite, MariaDB, PostgreSQL.
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- NoSQL databases are non-relational and distributed databases which mean that these databases don’t use the tabular schema of rows and columns found in traditional databases.
- Being non-relational databases, NoSQL databases can be based on documents, rows, and columns without sticking to standard schema definitions.
- NoSQL databases have dynamic schemas for unstructured databases. These databases are more flexible as they can be stored without having a pre-defined structure.
- There is no standard interface in NoSQL databases for handling quarries so they are not good fits for complex quarries.
- New data can easily be inserted into NoSQL databases as they don’t require prior steps. NoSQL databases are ideal for storing large data sets (e.g. Big Data).
Some examples of NoSQL databases are MongoDB, Apache, CouchDB, Redis)
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- Enumerate some things that you like the most in SQL and that motivate you to work with this language.
- My favorite thing about SQL is that there are no boring, mechanical solutions to problems while working on the SQL development process. Every time, I should come up with new solutions that require constant thinking and analyzing. I like challenges. Not only do they enhance my skills, but they also give me more understanding of applications I work with on daily basis. Developing SQL is not simply dealing with the company data in relational databases; it is rather everything from cloud storage to e-learning, e-commerce applications, and social media accounts.
- Tell us about the biggest challenge, you faced during your experience with SQL?
- Usually, when it comes to developing reports, you already have calculation logic that you need to implement in your code. In my previous project, I faced the situation where instead of logic description we had previously stored MySQL procedure. We had to investigate and match it with a new database and new code. It was a challenge for me, but as I mentioned I like challenges and am proud to overcome them successfully.
- Each profession and work require specific skills. In your opinion, which features should a perfect SQL developer have?
- Well, SQL developers are in high demand for sure because companies are interested in implementing their digital transformation strategies and becoming data-driven organizations. I believe a good SQL developer should first be comfortable with doing the following tasks, and secondly enjoy the process of completing them:
- Design database tables and structures
- Create views, functions, and stored procedures
- Create database triggers for automation
- Maintain data quality and security
- Write optimized quarries for integrations with other applications
SQL developers should certainly have some more skills in another programming languages. For example, if you work on applications that are written with C# or C++, it would be better if you know these languages as well. On the other hand, if you work with MySQL, you should certainly have experience and knowledge in PHP, or at least some familiarity with the .NET framework will be useful.
I think this information will be especially helpful for those who are in search of experienced remote SQL developers. Some other soft skills, that usually clients love to see in their employees include:
- Good communication skills and an easy-going person, as this role requires heavy co-operation with other team members in the IT department - starting from application developers to network engineers and cloud service providers.
- SQL developers also work with employees from other departments such as digital marketing, operations, business development as their work is also connected with digital transformation and the advent of data analytics. So the ability to understand and patiently co-operate with employees from other departments to reach the goals is also crucial.
To continue Babken’s point, today SQL developers’ salaries are quite high. For example, the current midpoint salary for these professionals drops in between $118.000-$150.000 in the USA. The demand for SQL developers is growing year by year. Thus it is not a surprise that many companies prefer to hire offshore software development companies. We have an interesting article about the top reasons to outsource your software development needs to Armenia. Contact our business development team for more in-detail discussions about your needs.
- As a CodeRiders developer, you have worked with a number of international clients. Do you have an ideal co-operation model for you between clients and software outsourcing companies?
- It is very important for me to understand the clients’ expectations from the project. So, before starting the actual development process, I make sure I clarify this with my client. An ideal co-operation model depends on the type of client I work with. For example, if a client is a non-technical person and wants to have control over the whole development process, I make sure I explain what I am doing and why. I will do this with constant reports and calls if necessary.
Sometimes non-technical clients give complex tasks and put tight deadlines. If you don’t explain why this task needs more time and the other one less, there will be a misunderstanding for sure. I also had clients that didn’t require much control over the development process, moreover, they preferred to see the final solution with minimum bugs. Here, I concentrate only on the code and don’t hold constant communication and represent reports during important stages of the software development lifecycle.
We have a nice article about tips on effective software vendor management. If you are seeking the most convenient software vendor management model for you, you can check these useful tips.
Image source: https://itel.am/am/news/12931
- If you were to introduce team CodeRiders and our software outsourcing company, which would be the first thing that would come to your mind?
- Team atmosphere for sure. Although our team consists of smaller teams or individuals working on separate projects when one of our developers faces an issue it becomes a challenge for the whole team. Everyone is ready to leave his or her project to help a colleague find a solution for the challenge. So, teamwork is on another level at CodeRiders. This is a fantastic advantage both for the team members of our software outsourcing company and for our clients.
In the first case, software developers feel supported which ultimately brings faster and high-quality results. On the other hand, clients get superb code with minimum bugs. So, if I were to introduce our company to a potential client, I would say that our software outsourcing firm has excellent team spirit, which highly impacts our job quality and communication skills.
