CST363 Week 2

Connecting The Dots

This week covered complex queries in SQL and the ability to join tables on any columns, creating a myriad of ways to view data that can offer a plethora of insights. Starting off by learning the operators involved the material quickly added layers for aggregate functions, joins, nested subqueries, complex queries and relational algebra. Here is a simple example of how joins can be used to provide insight into what impact product reviews from customers are having on the sales of a particular product:<

SELECT s.sale_id, s.product_id, r.rating, s.num_sold

FROM sales s
Join reviews r ON s.product_id = r.product_id AND s.sale_date = r.review_date;

>

The aggregate data can help to determine the impact customer satisfaction is having on sales of a product. We could add even more insight by setting predicates to see the effect of this over time.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

SQL's simple syntax obscures it's power as a tool for database manipulation. As a language SQL is not inherently difficult, but that doesn't make SQL easy. The difficulty comes from the complex aggregation, deeply nested conditions, and the logic requirement in relational queries. CST363 is not an SQL language class, it is a data science class that requires an understanding of data structures and the mathematical logic that is needed to command them. The ease of SQL makes it easier to develop skills that are beyond the semantics of learning another programming language.

This week was a humbling experience for me because I underestimated the rigors of this class. Due to hubris, and a mild state of panic at my monumental workload I stumbled into a quiz without any preparation to take it. In relation to the broader scope of the class, while SQL's syntax makes it easy to focus on logic, Java is a bit of a nightmare in that arena for me. My troubles are compounded by having CST300 running alongside this class and having 2 additional courses in progress for an AWS certification, one on cloud databases and the other on machines in the cloud. The time commitment is staggering even before considering work, family life with three kids and a very supportive wife. Maybe I should have taken a class on work-life balance.