Oracle v SQL Server

[dbomrrsm]

I am a SQL Server Developer and have been thinking quite seriously about starting to contract work for a living.

However an opportunity came up recently in work to learn development in Oracle.

I realise that with experience of both then contract work will be easier to find (two targets to shoot at) but am concerned that getting up to speed on oracle - at least to a point where I am comfortable enough to say I can "develop" in Oracle might delay my decision to contract to a point I dont ant it too.

Whilst I understand that it is largely just my decision as to how long I wish to wait - I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts as to how they feel the market for SQL Server developers may go in the future.

I feel totally comfortable with SQL Server but am a bit wary as to its staying power in the RDBMS market especially in comparison with a system that I have an opportunity to learn before I jump !

Any thoughts gratefully received.

[blue]DBomrrsm[/blue]

[blue]Software code, like laws and sausages, should never be examined in production[/blue][black] - [/black][purple]Edward Tenner[/purple]

 

[dbomrrsm]

BTW - I live in the UK if that has anything to do with it !

[blue]DBomrrsm[/blue]

[blue]Software code, like laws and sausages, should never be examined in production[/blue][black] - [/black][purple]Edward Tenner[/purple]

 

[aquias]

Speaking from a US perspective, and what I've seen, it will depend on what market type you want to go after. Due to costs, most small businesses will go with SQL vs Oracle. If you're looking for a bigger payout for each job, Oracle may be a better idea.

As to staying power? I don't believe either system is going to be leaving the market. It is true, they do the "same" thing. But they appeal to very different parts of the market.

My advice, learn Oracle if you can, when you're out on your own everything you know directly relates to how much you make (unlike once you're in a corporate environment where, most people, see very little shift in payscales no matter what they learn).

 

[hilfy]

In terms of actual SQL queries, the two are very similar. The differences lie in TSQL vs. PL/SQL. However, in my experience as a programmer, picking up a new programming language is usually not that difficult - I know what I want to do and as long as I have good documentation on the language, it's usually easy to find the specific syntax for what I want to do.

-Dell

A computer only does what you actually told it to do - not what you thought you told it to do.

 

[chiph]

I would take the opportunity to learn Oracle -- it can only help you.

What you'll find, however, is that SQL Server has been holding your hand all these years. With Oracle you'll be managing your own disk space allocation, and be interacting with the database at a much lower level (It's partly why good Oracle DBAs can command such large salaries).

Chip H.


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[Corran007]

I would learn oracle. It makes you that more marketable. Alot of companies are starting to have both. Having employees who can work in both is far more valuable than just one

 

[dbomrrsm]

thanks all - good point Corran007 - hadnt thought of that - but then again didnt know a lot of companies are more and more using both.

[blue]DBomrrsm[/blue]

[blue]Software code, like laws and sausages, should never be examined in production[/blue][black] - [/black][purple]Edward Tenner[/purple]

 

[Dukester0122]

Start learning Oracle without hesitation. I just completed a SQL Server 2000 training and most of the students knew Oracle. Morgan Stanley, Dow Jones, Johnson & Johnson have had existing projects both on Oracle and SQL Server, this only mean that larger companies also use SQL Server. You'll be more marketable knowing both database but make sure you use it otherwise having the training is all a waste.