How to Learn SQL the Lazy Way

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SQL is a programming language used to interact with structured databases. It’s one of the most popular languages to learn in tech, with applications across data engineering, computer engineering, data science, analytics, and infrastructure roles. SQL is essential for anyone entering the IT field.

This guide is for lazy and unfocused people who want to learn SQL with minimal effort. It breaks down the learning process into 7 dead-simple steps that even the most distracted minds can follow. 

1. Watch YouTube Videos

 
If you are completely new to programming and SQL, YouTube introduction videos are a great way to understand the syntax, terminologies, and data management systems. You can watch simple and short tutorials, such as “SQL Explained in 100 Seconds.” Focus on the video not just for learning but to learn the world you are entering. Many people feel motivated to try things themselves after watching a short video on a technical topic. So, consider YouTube tutorials as a source of inspiration.

2. Take Interactive Course

 
After finding motivation and determining what you want to pursue as a profession, you can enroll in interactive courses offered by platforms like DataCamp, Codecademy, or other popular websites that provide interactive learning experiences. These courses typically include video lessons followed by hands-on coding exercises, such as writing SQL queries. It’s essential to learn from your mistakes and debug any issues that arise. I highly recommend my peers to learn anything new through interactive courses, as they offer an active learning experience rather than a passive one.

3. Learn Basic Commands through Cheat Sheets

 
Search for an SQL cheat sheet online and download it. Keep it handy while you’re learning, as it will help you remember different syntax and commands for various queries. Cheat sheets provide bite-sized information about each command, making it easier to grasp these new and complex commands.

4. Practice on the Free Online SQL Editor

 
You don’t have to download the PostgreSQL server or install various software to practice SQL coding. All you need is an online editor, such as Online SQL Editor or SQL Online IDE. These online SQL editors come with sample databases and workspaces for you to write and run queries and view the results. They are free and always accessible; all you need is a browser. Practice everything you learn from the course on a daily or weekly basis to improve your SQL query writing and data analysis skills.

5. Use DBeaver to Interact with the Database Locally

 
After the online experience, we will transition to the local experience. First, install the DBeaver software and connect it to your database using the URL, username, and password. You can also start practicing locally with the sample SQLite database. DBeaver is popular software that is quite simple to use. Use it to practice data management and data analysis, and connect with various database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, ClickHouse, and more.

6. Work on Simple SQL Projects

 
Once you have gained enough proper skills in managing databases, you can start working on simple data analysis projects and data ingestion tasks where you will write and execute queries to find solutions.

Here are simple project examples:

1. Movie Tracker: Log movies you’ve watched with ratings and find your top-rated genres
2. Budget Tool: Track expenses and see where your money actually goes each month
3. Recipe Box: Store recipes and find what you can cook with ingredients in your fridge
4. To-Do List: Keep track of tasks because your brain shouldn’t have to remember everything
5. Book Logger: Track your reading history and never forget which books you’ve finished

7. Join Online Communities for Help and Showcasing the Projects

 
If you need help with setting up a database or running an SQL query, the best places to ask are the SQL and database community channels on various platforms like Reddit, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Community members are eager to assist you and can show you better ways to solve the issues you’re facing. 

Additionally, you can showcase your projects on these community platforms and receive feedback. This will help you improve your skills and stay updated with the latest technologies.

Conclusion

 
This guide helps unmotivated learners master SQL and databases through engaging methods. Starting with YouTube tutorials, it progresses to interactive courses that gamify learning with point-based achievements. The next steps include reinforcing SQL knowledge using Cheat Sheets, practicing online and locally, and building a simple SQL project.

In the end, showcasing the project and asking for feedback serves as the cherry on top.
 
 

Abid Ali Awan (@1abidaliawan) is a certified data scientist professional who loves building machine learning models. Currently, he is focusing on content creation and writing technical blogs on machine learning and data science technologies. Abid holds a Master’s degree in technology management and a bachelor’s degree in telecommunication engineering. His vision is to build an AI product using a graph neural network for students struggling with mental illness.