Hi everyone,

I’m currently learning/practicing Python, SQL, and PySpark, mainly with a data engineering goal.

I’m looking for a platform where I can regularly solve problems and improve my hands-on skills, especially:

1. Python — syntax, problem solving, data manipulation

2. SQL — queries, joins, CTEs, window functions, etc.

3. PySpark — DataFrames, transformations, aggregations, joins, optimization, etc.

I know platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, DataCamp, etc., but I’m looking for something that provides good practical exercises, preferably with datasets/projects rather than only algorithmic problems.

What platforms/websites do you recommend for this?

Also, if you’re a data engineer, I’d appreciate knowing how you personally practice these three skills.

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

I'm Business Analyst and I've spent a lot of time working with SQL. One thing I noticed is that many beginners struggle to stay engaged with traditional tutorials and courses.

So I spent the last few months building SQL Quest, a game where players learn SQL by completing challenges, solving database puzzles, and progressing through levels.

I launched it yesterday and I'm currently looking for honest feedback from SQL learners and professionals.

I'd love to know:

* Is the gameplay engaging?

* Are the SQL challenges useful?

* What would make you keep playing?

App Link - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sqlquest.game

  DROP TABLE IF EXISTS  #x
  SELECT 111 id, '1,3,5' PU_list INTO #x

  SELECT * FROM #x

   id   PU_list        --< current 1 row
  111   1,3,5


   id  PU              --< wanted output, create row for each value in List CSV
  111   1 
  111   3
  111   5

Hi all,
Is it possible to create SQL Server code to produce output like posted above, I need to create separate row for each value in PU_List separated by comma.

Thanks all
VA

Hi! I’m currently working as a Data Analyst, but my role mainly involves using Excel. I’m not very interested in continuing with Excel-based work, and I really want to transition into a career as an SQL Developer.

I’m looking for remote or freelance opportunities that I can pursue alongside my current job while learning and gaining practical experience in SQL.

Could anyone suggest a good learning path, remote job opportunities, or a mentor who can guide me through this transition?

I honestly don't know anything about SQL right now. I want to start learning it properly, so can you guys suggest how I should begin and what resources I should use? My plan is to learn SQL for data first and then move towards AI and ML. I don't even know if SQL is different depending on whether you are working in data, AI, or ML, so I'm a little confused about that too. If you could suggest some good resources, a proper way to learn it, and what I should focus on if I want to become really good at SQL, I would really appreciate it. Thankkk youuuu

I’ve been revisiting SQL Server PIVOT for reporting scenarios where row-based data needs to be transformed into columns.

A few things I find useful about PIVOT:

• Cleaner reporting output
• Easy aggregation across categories
• Useful for summary-style queries
• Can be more readable than complex conditional aggregation in some cases

I’ve also added the working SQL examples here:

GitHub:
https://github.com/laxmikant-geek/sql-server-examples/tree/main/pivot

And I wrote a more detailed explanation here for anyone who wants the walkthrough:

https://geeksarray.com/blog/how-to-pivot-data-in-sql-server

For those working regularly with SQL Server — do you prefer PIVOT, or do you usually use SUM(CASE WHEN...) for these kinds of transformations?

I am unsure where to begin with SQL from the Beginner's Edition. Several individuals have suggested to follow Data with Baraa, which appears to offer a similar course on YouTube and Udemy, with a certification. Could you advise me on which course to choose, a free or a paid one?

I am a Ruby on Rails developer. I’m looking for some skills that can help me self code review for sql part. I use Claude. Like that can guide me not to write sql that are anti patterns etc

I know basics but I want to self study. Any tips of good sources that are really effective in teaching and learning?

I know basics but I want to self study. Any tips of good sources that are really effective in teaching and learning?

day 1 of learning SQL.

1. Learnt about data structures ; primitive and non primitive data structures.
2. went through database, both relational and non relational database

Relational databases (SQL database)

non relational databases ( NoSQL database) eg Mongo DB.

1. Able to learn and understand DBMS, its purposes and the types of DBMS.

2. Comfortably describe the CRUD Operations and explain the ACID properties of queries.

3. Installed MySQL Workbench(had a bit of challenge working on it, but finally managed) and created my first MySQL connection

Hey everyone!

I just published a new video about SQL JOINs for beginners.

In this lesson, I explain:

- why relational databases use multiple tables

- how JOIN works

- INNER JOIN

- LEFT JOIN

- how the ON condition connects tables

- table aliases

- how to join multiple tables

- and how to combine JOINs with WHERE and ORDER BY

I use the Pagila PostgreSQL database for the examples and practice, so everything is demonstrated with actual data rather than just theory.

I'm building a beginner-friendly SQL tutorial series, so I'd really appreciate any feedback on the explanations or examples!

Video:

https://youtu.be/cRN6ikxtdpo?si=_Q2h5e-8BcCAJEYB

Hey everyone!

I just published Lesson 9 of my beginner SQL series — Subqueries in PostgreSQL.

In this lesson, I explain:

- what a subquery is

- how to use subqueries inside WHERE

- how IN works with subqueries

- how to use aggregate functions like AVG() inside a subquery

- how subqueries can be used for data analysis

and how subqueries compare to using JOINs

I'm using the Pagila database for the examples, so everything is demonstrated with real data rather than just theory.

There are also practice tasks and mini quizzes throughout the video.

I'm building this into a full beginner-friendly SQL course, so feedback is very welcome!

Video: https://youtu.be/xBAJ4U2EY6E?si=bE5n9q2s5Ff6X7SE

Thanks for watching! :)

Hey Engineers

We've all been through this. When the project you're working on starts scaling, you'll find the need to scale your database too, adding new columns, creating new tables, or trying to improve performance by adding new indexes. All of this comes with the risk of losing your users' data.

For this, I crafted a simple guide showing the schema change operations that you'll need on a day-to-day development basis for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.

It also covers some additional potential risks you need to keep in mind when performing schema changes on a production database.

Hopefully, it can help you along your SQL learning journey.

https://stackrender.io/guides/schema-change

Good luck!

I recently put together a practical SQL guide after realizing something:

📖 Full article:
https://medium.com/the-code-frontier/sql-keywords-every-developer-should-know-well-beginner-to-advanced-4d705d6c7538?sharedUserId=darvexatechnologies

Most developers learn SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE pretty quickly… but production SQL gets a lot more interesting after that.

Things like:

• INNER JOIN vs LEFT JOIN
• CAST / CONVERT
• DATEADD / DATEDIFF
• GROUP BY / HAVING
• SET NOCOUNT ON
• SET ANSI_NULLS
• Transactions and ROLLBACK
• SCOPE_IDENTITY()
• NOLOCK, ROWLOCK, READPAST
• @@ROWCOUNT, @@ERROR, @@SPID
• EXECUTE AS OWNER
• EXISTS vs IN
• TRY...CATCH

I tried to explain these from a real-world developer perspective, rather than giving textbook definitions — including where they can actually be useful and where you should be careful.

The guide is organized from beginner concepts through more advanced SQL Server features, with examples using a simple Employees and Orders dataset.

📖 Full article:
https://medium.com/the-code-frontier/sql-keywords-every-developer-should-know-well-beginner-to-advanced-4d705d6c7538?sharedUserId=darvexatechnologies

I'm curious:

What SQL keyword, function, or feature do you think developers commonly misunderstand or misuse?

For me, NOLOCK would probably be high on that list. 😄

Would love to hear what you've seen in real production code.

Does anyone know any good video for CTE and Window Function.

Struggling to understand it

Usually in SQL exercises ,the data is given and a new query is written.

I tried a new exercise where the student also writes the data in a CTE.

The exercise is like a kata, focusing on small parts of the query (in joins in this example).

I'll be happy to get feedback on the direction in general and on the specific exercise.

https://github.com/evidencebp/databases-course/blob/main/Examples/Topics/Join%20Kata.pdf

i'm currently learning data analysis on my own. i have mysql workbench & have been practicing it. the problem i've run into is low disk storage. i currently have 4.5 gb on my c drive, which i don't think is a lot. i don't have a lot of applications installed, so removing or moving them to another disk isn't an option. neither is spending money on storage 💔

im worried about the rest of my learning journey. i know i'll eventually have to install other programs/tools & it makes me sad that low storage space is what might hold me back from learning something im genuinely interested in.

i wanted to ask if there are online versions/compilers of these softwares available? im talking about python, tableau & all other stuff i'll need later on. i've used an online c++ compiler before, so im wondering if it's possible for other tools too. and if so, can they save all my previous data? what about something with an account where it syncs data to a cloud? HALP

Hello everyone.please checkout my new MySQL video and please hit like, subscribe and share videos in your contacts. https://youtu.be/AhqgtHZfHTI

Hello everyone you can checkout my new MySQL video on my channel sm dev diaries.please hit like, subscribe and share my videos in your contacts https://youtu.be/AhqgtHZfHTI

How is Data with Baraa course on youtube ?

Suggest some paid course to learn sql from beginner to intermediate level