I am working on a system that runs with Informix and so I started learning more and more about Informix. I thinking on studying and getting the Informix certification.
Do you think there is future on Informix out there? Or should I try learning more about Oracle or MySQL or some other popular database system?
Hi Chrys,
Since you asked for advice :)
1: Pick what you like better. As there is a future for Informix, Oracle and MySQL. And, the best futures come from working in/with tools you love.
2: A general rule of thumb: if you work in less "popular" tools, then your rates go up BUT so does your travel.
3: [IMHO] However: If you're willing dive in head deep into something to master it, my personal recommendation would be to select something newer. Like: SQLite, GoogleAppEngine, etc. Something where you can get ahead of the other 100,000 or so other people that already have that particular skill set.
I'm biassed - I've been working with Informix since 1986, and for Informix since 1990.
I think there is an ongoing future for Informix. Subject to the normal vagaries of predicting the future, and allowing for extra uncertainty because of the current economic conditions, I still expect to be working on or with Informix in 5 years; I think I'll probably be doing so in 10 years.
However, it is worth knowing about more than one DBMS, just as it is worth knowing about more than one operating system and worth knowing more than one programming language. Therefore, I certainly couldn't fault you for also learning about other DBMS.
KillingMichael makes an interesting point about popularity, rates and travel. There is likely to be some correlation. It also depends on what sort of job you are after - whether you're looking for contracting work with regular to frequent changes of job, or whether you are looking for more stable employment.
Which other DBMS to learn is a complex decision. I'm not sure whether SQLite and GoogleAppEngine are likely to have sufficiently few developers that you can get a jump ahead of the other people.