Ubuntu

using alternate dbms for school course

Asked by rdtindsm

I am taking an introductory course on database queries using SQL, and at some point PL/SQL. I start in a few days, so the class hasn't met, but every indication are that we will be using Oracle over the network. Am not sure whether I will have to use the school's system, whether I can log in from home directly to Oracle, or whether I can use the "virtual desktop" to work from home.

This is going to be basic SQL, no scripting, small tutorial data base. Am looking for suggestions as to a dbms system I can use as an alternative, probably MySQL. I am pretty much a newbie, so part of this question is whether there are any gotcha's. For example, the intro to db course used Access, but didn't teach much besides the user interface, and Access probably isn't the tool I want to use. I want to do as much work as possible independently of the school's system.

Will MySQL be a likely alternative? Any others that will work better for my purpose.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
amit
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Jayson Vaughn (thedonvaughn) said : 		#1

MySQL would be a likely alternative. It is definitely the most popular opensource rdbms.

My favorite opensource DB is PostgreSQL. Both would be a great alternative and both are actually widely used in the enterprise world.

You can also download a free trial version of Oracle DB to learn on as well. (At least in the past Oracle offered this)

Revision history for this message
Best amit (amit-ramjas) said : 		#2

for PL/SQL............. you will have to use Oracle DB ...... it is approx 1.7 GB................. NOW you can now download any version you like for FREE as it now comes with a developer license (free for self learning purposes)

Revision history for this message
Tom (tom6) said : 		#3

Access is a really horrible kludge - after that it might take a little while getting used to proper SQL but you'll find it so much nicer to work with. OpenOffice has something called "Base" which is kinda SQL but is trying to be like Access. I'm not sure whether to steer you away from it or towards it as a temporary stepping-stone (because it's there)

Anyway, good luck and have fun :)
Regards from
Tom :)

Revision history for this message
rdtindsm (rdtinknx) said : 		#4

Thanks amit, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
rdtindsm (rdtinknx) said : 		#5

Would just as soon use PostgreSQL, got it loaded and responding, but found that I could get the script generating the sample db to work. My bad. Choosing path of least resitance to load install Oracle. Got it downloaded, hope I can install it.

Revision history for this message
Tom (tom6) said : 		#6

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware#Installing%20downloaded%20packages

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows