This hands-on course introduces relational database technology using Postgres, the most popular and most admired open source database in the world. We will discuss and exercise key concepts, such as tables, relations, queries, indexes, primary keys and foreign keys, entity-relationship diagrams and normal forms. The course aims for a balance of theory and practice. All code and data samples will be provided to the participants.

We will use PostgreSQL, one of the most popular open-source databases, to illustrate and exercise the concepts. The exercises will leverage pgAdmin, the leading open-source tool for data analysts and DBAs working with Postgres.

While this course primarily uses Postgres to illustrate concepts, some features and examples may be specific to Postgres. Participants working with other relational database systems (e.g., MySQL, Oracle, or SQL Server) should be aware that certain functionalities may vary depending on the database system used.

The course is focused on data analysts who want to use SQL (and Postgres) to work with data and developers who aim to understand the basics of SQL. 

The course is focused on data analysts who want to learn SQL (and PostgreSQL) to work with data and developers who want to understand the basics of SQL. Certain advanced SQL concepts, such as stored procedures, functions, window functions, advanced indexes, complex data types, full text search, and common table expressions (CTE) will also not be part of this introductory course.

• Quick intro to databases
• Connecting to the Postgres database w. pgAdmin
• Tables and queries
• Query basics: Insert, update, delete, select
• Primary keys, foreign keys, and data integrity
• Relationships
• Organizing data with schemas and entity-relationship diagrams
• Operators
• Queries revisited (aggregates, joins, explain plans)
• Indexes
• Transactions
• Views
• Introduction to users, permissions and access control
• More than tables: using JSON to represent documents

Participants will become familiar with SQL to read, write, and execute database queries, to develop database schemas, and work with data stored in relational databases.

Mix of presentation and hands-on-keyboard exercises