Slides and materials are hosted at http://gdiphilly.github.io/intro-to-sql.

Big data is sexy right now. SQL is like the hipster of data. It was cool before people were into data. Most large companies, and many small ones, store all the valuable information about their companies in databases, and SQL is the language to get at that data and find out what you want about your customers, your products, and your entire business. SQL is a declarative language, which means it reads a lot like English, and is easy to get started with.

This class will teach you how to query databases, create them, and edit them, to get the information you need without waiting for developers or business analysts. SQL power to the people.

Cost:

Course length: 1 full-day course (9:30-3:30)

This class is the second in a series of classes focusing on data, and goes hand-in-hand with an Intro to Database Design class. You don't need to have taken the class, but a familiarity with database concepts and terminology helps. No prior programming skills necessary, since SQL is all fun and declaratory like that.

• Your laptop (Mac, PC, or Linux are all okay).
• A modern web browser - either Chrome or Firefox with Firebug installed.
• A text editor. We recommend Sublime Text 2 (free; available for Mac, PC, and Linux).
• Something to take notes with

You'll learn:

First Half (Morning): How to Read a Database

• What's a Database? What's SQL?
• Select statement
• Group by statements
• Clauses and joins

Second Half (Afternoon): How to Write to a Database

• Creating, deleting, and updating a table
• Super-awesome bonus round: subqueries