How are database programmers different from other programmers?
How is their skill set different? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How do their personalities compare?
Can these generalizations even be made?
+1 Obvious answer ftw
Perchik
2009-03-18 16:41:36
LOL ! More important than being obvious, I think it's a *fitting* answer.
Cerebrus
2009-03-18 16:44:20
+9
A:
They learn to think in terms of 'sets' rather than 'instructions' or 'objects'.
Joel Coehoorn
2009-03-18 16:43:46
+4
A:
They know stuff about the database other than that usual "SELECT * FROM bla".
They know how to use Query Analyzers and know what an Execution plan is. They know that you can Change the SQL QUery to add a Hint to tell the Database which Index to use. They know all those non-Standard Commands that is different for each Database and that enables really obscure, yet highly impacting performance tweaks. They know how to write a Mandelbrot in T-SQL.
Just like a Web Developer knows stuff about AJAX, a Windows Developer knows about Messages or a 3D Engine Developer knows about how to create an Inverse Sqrt function, a Database Programmer knows stuff about SQL
Michael Stum
2009-03-18 16:57:31
+1
A:
I feel the scope of the DB programmers is narrow. The range of problems they face might be limited. And the technologies are changing bit slower. So I think the other programmers have a wide idea about the domain than DB programmers.
Chathuranga Chandrasekara
2009-03-18 17:05:21