Friday, June 25, 2010

I passed PLSQL IZO-147!!!! with 90%

Probably the only person in my region with Labview and Oracle certification.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Must study Selftestsoftware Study Guides to pass OCA exam

I was comparing 6 books to verify which book is right about the fine details of Oracle PLSQL 1zo-147 exam. Very time consuming.

Then bought Selftestsoftware study guide which was a relief because it immediately focus me to study which points.

I have Selftestsoftware study guide for PLSQL OCA and Intro to SQL.

Taking exam next week. I went on a hiatus to get Labview certified. If I get OCA, i am probably the only south asia guy with these two certs.

Friday, January 1, 2010

The best Oracle lead in books

You need some good Oracle books to lead yourself into Oracle. Like a primer.


-Head first SQL by Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley
-Easy Oracle PL/SQL programming by John Garmany
-Oracle 11g for dummies
-Sams Teach yourself PLSQL in 21 days

-Oracle SQL Tuning by Dan Tow
-The art and science of Oracle Performance tuning
-Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2 by Gavin JT Powell
-Oracle SQL high performance tuning by Guy Harrison

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Deliberate practice

http://www.hooversbiz.com/2009/03/04/deliberate-practice-in-a-nutshell/

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Five star concept building book: Computer Networking First-Step by Wendell Odom

Few books are as perfect than this book. Except maybe Headfirst sql, or Who Is Fourier, or that partial differential equation I forgot the name book.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Got serial data from labview into Mysql!


First Labview fetch with Mysql


My first interface of labview with mysql!


OCA developer progress

Finish reading the first round of self test software. Now reading second time Oracle Program Units Study Guide book and taking notes, the reading is silky smooth, because after reading self test software i know what details to look for.

May take the test in this december.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Tools for me to study PLSQL


Palm for me to study on buses and trains. Head light for me to study under blanket.

I noticed that studying PLSQL is no different from playing Sudoko. Or playing Bridge. I wanted to become a pro bridge player. But Oracle is better.


Saturday, October 24, 2009

Bought selftestsoftware for OCA developer 1zo 147


Look got all correct first try in section 1 :)

First plsql troubleshooting

Fun!

My first oracle table desc, first plsql commands error troubleshoot, first use of edit command. 


First oracle troubleshooting

Complete first reading of PLSQL program units exam guide.

Run script from Rampant press, first time I ran a Oracle script actually, actually first time also I operate Oracle formally,  Immediately there was an error from my Oracle XE, saying there is TNS connection problem, but after reading Sybex OCA Oracle study guide, I know there is something fishy with pubs/pubs@mydb. I change it to pusbs/pubs. And my first Oracle troubleshoot works for the first time!


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Oracle PL SQL Program Units Exam Guide by Steve Ohearn

The best book on Oracle I have read. Super clear and lucid explanation left no stone unturned. Let you understand PLSQL deeply.

But probably not suitable as a beginner book. You should read some beginners books first to get the vague but important concepts like putting on a outline of the sculpture. And then finally read this book will sharpen the outlines deeply and all the concept together and the everything clear and lucid, I call this kind of book the finalizer.

Read like this order to understand Oracle deeply or pass an OCA exam:

Head first SQL
Rampant Press Easy Oracle PL SQL Programming
Sams Teach yourself PLSQL in 21 days.
Oracle PL SQL Program Units Exam Guide (The finalizer)
Selftestsoftware

Oracle 11g for dummies
OCA Oracle 10g administration I study guide (The finalizer)
Selftestsoftware

Oracle SQL Tuning by Dan Tow
Oracle SQL: Jumpstart with Examples by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2 by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
The art and science of Oracle Performance tuning (L)

Oracle SQL high performance tuning by Guy Harrison (W)  (The finalizer)

Friday, October 9, 2009

God wrote me!!!! T0T

http://oracle-bubul.blogspot.com/2009/10/buying-pc-now-to-practice-pl-sql-at.html 

OCP Developer PLSQL Program Units Exam Guide by Steve Ohearn

OCP Developer PL/SQL Program Units Exam Guide by Steve Ohearn

Finally book released back to Jurong Regional library. One of the best book i read. Clear and lucid prose. Orderly step by step presentation.

Probably this year I can pass the OCA developer exam. 

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Buying a PC now to practice PL SQL at home

My laptop has labview cannot install big oracle. Thus buy a second hand PC.

Almost finishing reading SAMS teach yourself PLSQL in 21 days. Now I can finger around with PLSQL and get familiar with it. My reservation of PLSQL program unit study guide is still not available yet from singapore library, somebody is loaning the book.

I may again borrow Steven Ferguson PL SQL again and see what is the fuss about :)

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sams teach yourself PL SQL in 21 days is better than these books

Though sams is a old book, and it some points it needs the explanation from another great book Rampant Press Easy Oracle PL SQL Jumpstart but to learn pl sql it is better than :

Oracle PL / SQL Programming (Animal Guide)

Oracle Database 11g PL / SQL Programming (O...

Oracle Database 10g PL / SQL Programming

Oracle PL / SQL For Dummies

Beginning PL / SQL: From Novice to Professional (...

Oracle PL / SQL by Example (4th Edition)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Oracle SQL high performance tuning by Guy Harrison is the best Oracle book

Oracle SQL high performance tuning by Guy Harrison
Later in Sept 19 2009, I read this book is like the best Oracle book i have read, it clears up concept better than the art and science of Oracle performance tuning. I read it very smoothly. I read it like a oracle bible now.

Sams teach yourself in 21 days by Johnathan Gennick is the best PLSQL book i have ever read

I was looking for Oracle PLSQL program units exam guide in Jurong East Regional library in Singapore and it was on loan, and i found the above two great books.
The Sams teach yourself PLSQL in 21 days by Johnathan Gennick is probably the best PLSQL book i have ever read though it is not very famous and uses oracle 8i but i cant put the book down, it step by step explanation has cleared a lot of doubts in my mind even the Rampant book Oracle PLSQL jumpstart didnt really clear. I cant put the book down.But the book is written by two authors, John is probably very good the other one probably not that good, read the reviews of Amazon.


I am in chapter 3 now. cant put the book down

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Reading Oracle SQL high performance tuning like reading magazine

Flipping here and there non sequentially; the way it is meant to be read.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

What is Oracle like?

It is like car tuning but better. 

http://www.cartuningcentral.com/

Oracle SQL High Performance tuning by Guy Harrison - very good book

It cannot be use as a first book. But on second read, it is actually a very good book, simple prose and clear away some concepts i have on indexing. Could be used as a main sql tuning book.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Easy Oracle PL/SQL by John Garmany

Very good book. I have been reading quite a few so call good Oracle PLSQL book, but a lot of concepts are still vague in my mind like IN, OUT, INOUT, variable scope, and cursor. This book with its clear and lucid prose dispels all my myst.


Very good book

Saturday, August 22, 2009

My favorite Oracle book


Very lucid explanation.

The art and science of Oracle performance tuning by Christopher Lawson

Monday, August 17, 2009

The best Oracle books August 2009

F: These books i have uploaded to Freedrive.com for you to study. Ask your mom and aunt for login and password, or read my email treasure chest to you, or read the books in my portable harddisk.
W: We have bought the hard copy books from Amazon.
L: This books are available in singapore libraries, use the singapore library search engine in the internet

August 17, 2009
Programming is a spiritual practice like pottery or flute. Oracle is a living thing.

Best Oracle books

Head first SQL by Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley (F, L)
Easy Oracle SQL by John Garmany (W)
Easy Oracle PL/SQL programming by John Garmany (W)

Oracle SQL: Jumpstart with Examples by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2 by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
The art and science of Oracle Performance tuning (L)
Oracle SQL high performance tunign by Guy Harrison 
Oracle performance tuning 101 (W)
Oracle 11g for dummies (L)
Easy Oracle jumpstart by Rampant Press (W)


Supporting books

1. Linux for dummies (F, L)
2. C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie (F)
3. Networking for dummies (F,L)
4. Game programming books (L)

Head first SQL by Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley (F, L)
-start with this book first to get excited about Oracle
Easy Oracle SQL by John Garmany (W)
-Then get a bit deeper into SQL
Easy Oracle PL/SQL programming by John Garmany (W)
-Get your Oracle lab started
Oracle SQL: Jumpstart with Examples by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
-Some excellent diagrams explaining index much better than other books, long winded dont have to read all
Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2 by Gavin JT Powell (F,L)
-Some excellent examples, long winded dont have to read all
The art and science of Oracle Performance tuning (L)
-After reading sql tuning then only you can enjoy this book
Oracle performance tuning 101 (W)
-Convoluted prose but good analogies on hardware
Oracle 11g for dummies (L)
Easy Oracle jumpstart by Rampant Press (W)
-Probably the best Oracle book

Recent oracle tuning books i read





Oracle tuning 101 book, the prose is a bit skewy and information not organized step by step but it has good chapters on hardware tuning and some excellent analogies.

Oracle 10g tuning book by Powell, prose is plain but sometimes long winded, is a very good sql tuning book, can read.

Oracle SQL tuning by Guy Harrison, very technical, not a good first book to start.

just rediscovered the art and science of oracle tuning, actually a very good book, but not a first book to start about tuning, better read books on SQL tuning first. Last time i thought the book wasnt good because my

Received the following books from amazon very happy.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Easy Oracle jumpstart by Rampant Press

I read the contents, looks like a very good book. Ordered one from Amazon yesterday.

Previously i ordered from Rampant press also Easy PL SQL, and Easy SQL.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Oracle SQL jumpstart Gavin Powell : very good

The book one shot with index block clears up my fuzzy and wrong concept about index; i know that index is stored in separate tablespace but showhow got an image that ordering index is same as ordering table :p.

The book one short with simple sentence clears up my concept about cursor, it just a memory to hold the querry data :p, much better than other books which cannot seem to give a clear and simple concept.

I am scanning the book because it is a reference book and got a lot of goodies.

scanning and detail reading is ying and yang

http://oracle-bubul.blogspot.com/2009/07/scanning-and-reading-in-detail-is-ying.html

Scanning and reading in detail is ying and yang

When you just start reading a book especially a big book, or tackle a complicated project. Always scan the book first, read it non sequentially back and front, front and back. Read only the part that you feel like needing to read or interest you. Only when you have get the overview picture of the book and feel you can go no more, then only you decide whether to read the book detailly and sequentially. Scanning a complex book prevent jamming when detail reading and memorizing.

Scanning the book is a necessary step. And reading the book detailly and memorizing is also a necessary step becasue without the details you cannot get the job done, there is too many things you are not familiar with. So both are needed, yin and yang.

Dont mix scanning and detail reading together.

It is better you read the end book first because you know where the goal is and know what to look in detail like scanning SQL tuning first before reading SQL book.

You will be facing a lot of sitatuion where the task is big and complex, use the ying and yang.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Exploration is linking things together

Grow a tree like crystal.

Read on the internet or book the metaphorming process by Todd Siler

Programming is much more fun than database administration

Much much more fun, it is almost like a spiritual practice making pottery.

My new direction

Now my new direction is to fully understand Oracle in aspect of SQL tuning. Memorizing for OCA admin is pointless and cannot produce at work, plus it doesn't bring excitement which makes Oracle great.

Oracle gives positivity

Today i read the positivity book by Barbara Fredrickson and i think have something to look forward to is the best way to increase positivity, instead of mindfulness, or gratitude.

Oracle always offers endless novelty, excitement, trill of conquest when found new book in its land of oz.

We are always more inspired by novelty instead of gratitude for the usual. That is why xbox is more effective than prayer or gratitude, and why Oracle is better than Xbox.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Two SQL books that may save my Oracle career


That SQL performance tuning book by Peter Gulutzan and SQL tuning by Dan Tow, the prose just sucks, cant explain things clearly.

I found two Oracle SQL tuning book which is probably much better:

Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2, Second Edition by Gavin JT Powell

Oracle SQL High-Performance Tuning by by Guy Harrison

Edit 28 July
The Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2, and Oracle SQL:jumpstart by Example by Gavin JT Powell probably saved my Oracle life.

Disovered them on 27 July 2009, and coincidentally my self motivation poster is on this date to take the OCA exam. I will later attach a photo.

I might buy a Palm Tunsten T3 to read the two great books.




Saturday, July 25, 2009

Probably the best PLSQL and SQL book

Rampant press has produced a few probably best oracle books that explains concepts intuitively:

Easy Oracle PL/SQL Programming: Get Started Fast with Working PL/SQL Code Examples (Paperback)

by John Garmany


This book is probably much better than PLSQL for dummies or the online manual. I am getting a copy from Amazon. Sample can find in google books.


Easy Oracle SQL: Get Started Fast Writing SQL Reports with SQL*Plus (Paperback)

by John Garmany

This book is probably better than head first SQL.



Thursday, July 23, 2009

Focus on SQL tuning now

After understanding most of the material for OCA, and now halfway in memorizing, i took a look at Oracle SQL tuning books to relieve my monotomy, and noticed that my Oracle understanding is still quite low.

I am mainly interested in tuning, like tuning a racecar or tuning a strategy game.

Now i know if i got OCA i still dont have the competency, thus now i will focus to understand how oracle works by going into SQL tuning.

PLSQL is just a language can be easily learned, can do it later. Most important is SQL tuning.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

SQL tuning by Dan Tow

Bought the book after 1 hour search!

Looks like a great book that gives you a map to understand how querrying works, and gives you steering wheel to drive.

From the book

Here is an analogy that works pretty well. Understanding the first step gives you a clear windshield; you know where you are. Understanding the second step gives you a working steering wheel; you can go somewhere else. Understanding the third step gives you a map, with marks for both where you are and where you want to be.


Upload to freedrive.com

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Finding a good book brings controls back into life!!!! SQL Performance Tuning

I was reading Niemic Oracle performance tuning tips book, really lost hope in becoming a oracle tuning expert, the book was long winded, showing a little piece here a little piece there without introducing a overall tuning concept.
Same opionion here:
http://www.dbasupport.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-35457.html

Then read oracle wait interface, by the author of Oracle performance tuning 101, also long winded, a little bit here, a little bit there, got really desperate. Is Oracle performance tuning 101 the same thing?

Couldn't get Oracle performance tuning 101 in singapore library or kinokuniya, must buy from amazon.

Then searching searching in Amazon, reading reviews. Checking out free ebooks. Then finally found this book:

SQL Performance Tuning (Paperback)

by Peter Gulutzan (Author), Trudy Pelzer (Author)


The first few page immediately it builds the important concept, immediately things becomes clear, logic brought into chaos, chaos subdued and order emerged.

Actually to become successfully in life, is to bring order into chaos. To be more successful is to bring more order into chaos.

Reading this book bring back life, bring back order, bring back excitement, and hope into life, it is like holding a big toy in my hand that will dispel anxiety and boredom. Getting good books is very important.

SQL Performance Tuning


Found this book today at approximately 12 am July 05. Uploaded pdf copy to freedrive.com. Order book from singapore library.

When i read this in the book immediately i have a very good impression

Everybody has heard of sluggish SQL queries, or even whole systems, that a heroic someone improved with small effort. Usually the improvement is small too, so we will avoid extravagant promises. But we will make you the following guarantees.

  • You will be able to follow our arguments without deep thinking or hard work. All we assume is that you have basic knowledge of programming and standard SQL syntax. In fact, you can read this book on a plane or at the beach.
  • All of our observations have been confirmed by tests on real DBMSs within the last several months.
  • We know that "optimizing" is very different from "over-clocking," and we only discuss safe, rational, relational techniques.


  • Edit: July 08,09

    Wow, at first i find the second chapter of the book difficult to read, transivity and all, but after the 3rd reading at zzz lunchtime, wow it is a damn good book, very logical and straightforward:

    "

    Specific Tuning

    To this point, we've talked about general tuning of search conditions. Now we'll look at how you can improve your code using specific SQL operators.

    AND

    When everything else is equal, DBMSs will evaluate a series of ANDed expressions from left to right (except Oracle, which evaluates from right to left when the cost-based optimizer is operating). No rule says they must—that's just what they do. You can take advantage of this behavior by putting the least likely expression first or—if both expressions are equally likely—putting the least complex expression first. Then, if the first expression is false, the DBMS won't bother to evaluate the second expression.


    "


    "

    For this kind of statement, we believe the essential question is—Should there be an index on column1? So we've devoted a whole chapter to the subject of indexes—what they look like, what variations exist, how indexes affect data changes, and so on. In another chapter, we address the question of how to use EXPLAIN (or its equivalent) to find out whether your particular DBMS actually uses an index for a particular SELECT. That illustrates our priority—we think that the first priority is the concept: indexes. Certainly, though, we must also care about the method: diagnostic tools. We hope that, with the concepts firmly planted in your mind, you will quickly arrive at the right point. We don't recommend that you implement any idea in this book without testing it first—but without ideas, you'll flounder randomly between plans without knowing if your final choice really is the best one."




    Wednesday, July 1, 2009

    How i got hots on Oracle RAC


    saw this picture the other day, now my wallpaper. It is the internet, looks eerily like the brain, fratalness of the universe.


    Few days later I eerrily got interested in Oracle real application cluster


    Knowledge is like a tree. The more you link the tree up, the more godlike and happier you are.

    Tuesday, June 30, 2009

    Best Networking and plsql book

    Click to Close



    Oracle PL/SQL by Example (3rd Edition) (Prentice Hall Professional Oracle Series) (Paperback)

    by Benjamin Rosenzweig (Author), Elena Silvestrova



    Oracle PL/SQL by Example (3rd Edition) (Prentice Hall Professional Oracle Series)

    Monday, June 22, 2009

    Best Oracle book i have read!!

    Yesterday I found this book in Singapore library, and it is the best oracle i have read. First time i understand why oracle does what is does from a practical viewpoint, straight to the point, brief and lucid clear information.

    Bought and pdf copy and uploaded to freedrive.com for my sons!

    Oracle 11g For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)
    by Chris Zeis (Author), Chris Ruel (Author), Michael Wessler

    http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-11g-Dummies-Computer-Tech/dp/0470277653




    Oracle 11g For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

    Saturday, June 20, 2009

    Oracle online documentation of plsql is the best

    I have flip through a couple of PLSQL books like Steven Ferguson "Oracle PLSQL programming", really long winded and not to the point.

    "PLSQL for dummies" doesn't explain things in a clear language and examples leaving the text hard to read.

    "plsql by example" and "11g pl sql" is too long winded and mix the advance part with the basic part, hard to read.

    I felt the time crunching. There are delay for studying OCA admin exam (baby and all), and i cant study plsql quick and fast to meet this year deadline.

    But i read oracle online documentation of PLSQL, to my surprise, it is written much better, i am excited and will print out to read, upload to freedrive.com for my sons.

    http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/appdev.920/a96624/toc.htm

    Monday, June 15, 2009

    Bring excitement back to programming

    Bring the excitement back to programming, like a child rearranging his toys.

    Do something radical, make your program run a bit faster. Use mindfulness concept by Ellen Langer.

    Oracle PL/SQL Programming (Paperback)
    by Steven Feuerstein

    Oracle 11g for Dummies

    Oracle 11g For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)
    by Chris Zeis (Author), Chris Ruel (Author), Michael Wessler (Author)

    Just saw it in jurong library yesterday, looks like a great introductory book to oracle.

    Thursday, June 4, 2009

    After OCA exam books: studying now as fun read

    LINUX Programming for Dummies Getting it from Singapore library


    Oracle PL/SQL For Dummies Getting it from Singapore library

    Tuesday, June 2, 2009

    OCA exam progress - memorizing now

    In the process of memorized izo-042 selftestsoftware chapter 'manage storage arhitecture', finished memorized chapter 7.

    i mark down in red the ones really hard to memorize for memorizing just before exam again. Very few red marks.

    Sunday, May 31, 2009

    How to study complicated subject

    The swallow a mountain method
    1. Break big task into smaller ones.
    2. Reward yourself frequently.
    3. Studying Oracle is no harder than studying abc. Just expose yourself daily to it.
    4. Practice, practice, practice - A great samurai
    5. Do things one step at a time
    6. Detachment.
    7. Believe the task is easy. This will banish your resistance.

    Best Oracle books
    1. Oracle 10g Database Administration Concepts & Implementation Made Simple by Asim Abbasi
    2. OCA: Oracle 10g Administration by Chip Dawes, Bob Bryla
    3. Expert Oracle Database Architecture by Thomas Kyte
    4. Selftestsoftware
    5. Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley
    6. Oracle Performance Tunning 101 by Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha, Kirtikumar Deshpande
    http://oracle-bubul.blogspot.com/2009/05/best-oracle-books-reloaded.html


    How to study books
    1. Find good books : Googel search "Oracle" best book. Read reviews in Amazon. Get books in Singapore library. Get free books on internet google "book title" free book.
    2. Quick scan : Quick scan each chapter to get a overall idea.
    3. Organic read : Only read the parts that interest you. Gain understanding first.
    4. Detail reading: Gain understanding.
    5. Notes taking: This step is very important for memorization and detail reading. Use hand writing or copy paste from ebook. Write down your questions on the notes to refer back later.
    6. Memorize: Read the notes and memorize. There is no understanding without memory.

    After I got my OCA, blitzkrieg on PLSQL and linux scripting

    Maybe two weeks can finish blitzkrieg with a laptop. And post my cv up in monster. Then meantime try to get OCA developer.

    This two books will help:
    Oracle PL/SQL For Dummies


    A Practical Guide to Linux(R) Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming

    Friday, May 29, 2009

    Bubul motivational poster

    Paste it on my table:



    IZO - 042 JULY 27

    "If you don't work, what would you do?"

    "If he can do it, why can't you do it? He is only a guy"

    -Chong Kok Weng, ]
    Francis most hated colleague

    Oracle PL/sql for dummies

    Oracle PL/SQL For Dummies Another pretty good pl/sql book. I bought the book and upload to freedrive.com for my sons

    Oracle PL/SQL programming

    http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-PL-SQL-Programming-Third/dp/0596003811


    "Each chapter has been crafted to address these three objectives. His writing style is clear, succinct, and reads like he is sitting next to you chatting about the new things he's learned. The book is absolutely full of code examples. Most of the examples are posed as practical programming problems. He carefully walks you through the lines of example code, clearly explaining the logic used for each step of the program, and points out version-based differences. Steve is also not afraid to express an opinion and will tell you exactly why he chooses a particular method for solving a problem. Notes explaining tips and traps proliferate the book."

    Memorization needed for a exam?

    http://certcities.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?tid=6831

    How is like being with Oracle

    First it's like entering into a desert, there is constant thirst.

    Then after you got used to the thirst, you look up and see the clear blue skies with stars shining in beautiful configuration.

    Thursday, May 28, 2009

    Wrox Proffesional Oracle Programming

    http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Oracle-Programming-Programmer/dp/0764574825

    Got the book yesterday from Bukit Batok library.

    Looks like a nice book to fill in the gaps left behind by Sybex OCA study guide. Nice fast overview of how and why Oracle works which Sybex left behind, and hard to find in Thomas Kyte Oracle Architecture.

    Learning is about linking meanings together like building a spider web to the leaves, branches, woman's hair.

    Professional Oracle Programming (Programmer to Programmer)

    Tuesday, May 26, 2009

    Monday, May 25, 2009

    I am going to write a cool PL SQL object after OCA

    Yeah, read that a lot of DBA works as a programmer first. So I will write a cool PL SQL program first maybe a trigger or soemthing :P as a demo or white paper.

    Beginning PL SQL book looks like a good book

    Beginning PL/SQL: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional)

    Beginning PL/SQL: From Novice to Professional (Beginning from Novice to Professional) (Paperback)

    by Donald Bales

    http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-PL-SQL-Novice-Professional/dp/1590598822/ref=pd_sim_b_8

    Wednesday, May 20, 2009

    OCA Exam study progress

    Just bought a canon 3in1 printer. Print out Sybex chapter 1-3 to read on the bus. Muahaha

    Saturday, May 16, 2009

    Oca exam study progress

    I am completing the notes taking of sybex oca chapters 1-3, 6-8.

    Then print out the notes. And start memorizing half of the oca requirements.

    networking, performance monitoring, backup and recovery, moving is the second half.

    oca exam here i come!

    Thursday, May 14, 2009

    The newer best tuning book!

    So i could not find the Oracle Performance Tuning 101 book in SIngapore library because it is missing. But i track the authors in Amazon and realize they have written a new book!

    Oracle Wait Interface: A Practical Guide to Performance Diagnostics & Tuning (Osborne ORACLE Press Series)


    Start reading Oracle Wait Interface on your Kindle in under a minute.

    Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.

    Oracle Wait Interface: A Practical Guide to Performance Diagnostics & Tuning (Osborne ORACLE Press Series) (Paperback)

    by Richmond Shee (Publisher), Kirtikumar Deshpande (Author), K. Gopalakrishnan (Author) "Speed is the word that defines the twenty-first century..." (more)
    Key Phrases: write wait event, file parallel write event, following key thoughts, Wait Parameters Wait, Oracle Wait Interface, Active Session History (more...)
    5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

    List Price: $52.99
    Price: $34.40 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
    You Save: $18.59 (35%)
    Upgrade this book for $9.99 more, and you can read, search, and annotate every page online. See details

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

    Wednesday, May 13, 2009

    The best Oracle tuning book: Found!

    Oracle Performance Tuning 101



    Tell the Publisher!
    I’d like to read this book on Kindle n’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.

    Oracle Performance Tuning 101 (Paperback)

    by Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha (Conductor), Kirtikumar Deshpande (Author), John A. Kostelac (Author) "If you upgrade your system with faster CPUs, you will get better performance..." (more)
    Key Phrases: database buffer cache, configuring initrans, shared pool area, Oracle Corporation, Enterprise Edition Release, Oracle Performance Tuning (more...)
    4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

    1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
    5.0 out of 5 stars Novel on Oracle Performance Tuning, June 24, 2002
    On my flight back from Mumbai to Chennai, I have completed 50% of the first
    chapter in "Oracle Performance Tuning 101". My immediate feedback on this
    book is that, its a great book, just like a novel, very few technical
    books that you can read and catch your 100% attention on a flight, I
    enjoyed reading it !
    Help other customers find the



    Tuesday, May 12, 2009

    Taking notes when studying books are much faster

    I realize if i take notes when studying Oracle it is much faster to absorb.

    I have read Sybex OCA study guide a couple of times but still missed out a lot of details. Only now that i start copy pasting notes from the pdf to words, that i start remembering the details.

    Probably it is like digging for diamond in a pile of ash, putting the diamonds into a box can help to refer them later much faster, like indexing, instead of looking back into the ash again.

    Sunday, May 10, 2009

    Note taking when studying a book is very important

    After i

    scan the book
    understand the material
    read other books to get more understanding
    study selftestsoftware to know where to focus

    now notetaking from Sybex OCA book is very important to help me remember and look in the details.

    I copy paste the sybex book in pdf to a word doc. Now i am at chapter 3.

    If you dont work what will you do?

    A colleugue of mine in Tawau gave me two important sentence:

    If you dont work what will you do?

    If he can do it, why cant you do it?

    I study Oracle in small chunks

    I stand on bus and study a bit, use coffee time and study a bit.

    I think in my busy life, this is more efficient than study Oracle in one go hiding in a hotel. This is the guerrilla method.

    Oracle is like a forest

    All things are fractals in this universe. Oracle is like a forest, a natural evolution, all man made things are parts of evolution.

    Oracle is like patterns in go board game. A slowflake crystal.

    Friday, May 1, 2009

    Why Oracle is so good

    I have played with a lot of toys: quantum physics, computational fluid mechanics, game programming, hacking, poetry, philosophy, psychology, chess, bridge, go, poker, xbox, mathematics, women, painting, computer graphics, and karate.

    Actually deep inside all this toys, they are actually exhibiting a similar pattern, they are the same with each other. This is the fractal pattern emerging inside this chaotic holographic universe.

    But Oracle is still the best because:

    1. You can hack in your room only with a laptop and a few books. With other engineering for example electrical engineering, there is no way for you to hack because the equipment is expensive, critical, and you need clearance.

    2. You can have more possibility of becoming a guru because of 1.

    3. The study materials to become a guru are much more easier to access. There are more world class Oracle books in the bookshops than compared to theoretical physics with are only accessible in university.

    4. You can quickly become a guru at a young age because of 3.

    5. It is one of highest paid profession.

    6. It is vast and big. A big ocean for you to explore.

    7. It has the joy of tuning a car.

    Best Oracle Books Reloaded

    Sean Ryan all this books i have uploaded to Freedrive.com for you to study. Ask your mom and aunt for login and password, or read my email treasure chest to you, or read the books in my portable harddisk.

    July 28, 2009
    Programming is a spiritual practice like pottery or flute. Oracle is a living thing.

    Best Oracle books

    A. Head first SQL by Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley
    B. Oracle SQL high performance tunign by Guy Harrison
    Easy Oracle SQL by John Garmany
    1. Oracle SQL: Jumpstart with Examples by Gavin JT Powell
    2. Oracle Performance Tuning for 10gR2 by Gavin JT Powell
    3. Easy Oracle PL/SQL programming by John Garmany
    4. Oracle 11g for dummies

    Supporting books

    1. Linux for dummies
    2. C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie
    3. Networking for dummies
    4. Game programming books







    July 23 2009 list

    Start Oracle by studying the performance tuning first, it is the most fun.

    Intro into Oracle:
    1. Oracle 11g for dummies : study this master book first to give direction for other books.
    2. Oracle 10g Database Administration Concepts & Implementation Made Simple by Asim Abbasi : Read this book if you have trouble.
    3. Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley

    Oracle tuning:
    1. SQL tuning by Dan Tow : This is the master book that gives direction to study other books.
    2. SQL performance tuning by Peter Gulutzan :This book explains index well, can use to support 1.
    3. Oracle Performance Tunning 101 by Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha, Kirtikumar Deshpande : The other master book.

    Oracle concept:
    1. Expert Oracle Database Architecture by Thomas Kyte
    2. Oralce concepts manual (online, search with google).

    PLSQL:
    1. Oracle online documentation (they are actually quite good)

    Non Oracle supporting books:
    1. Linux for dummies
    2. C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie

    OCA administration exam:
    1. OCA:Oracle 10g Administration by Chip Dawes, Bob Bryla
    2. Selftestsoftware

    Friday, July 24, 2009

    Probably the best PLSQL and SQL book

    Rampant press has produced a few probably best oracle books that explains concepts intuitively:

    Easy Oracle PL/SQL Programming: Get Started Fast with Working PL/SQL Code Examples (Paperback)by John Garmany

    This book is probably much better than PLSQL for dummies or the online manual. I am getting a copy from Amazon. Sample can find in google books.

    Easy Oracle SQL: Get Started Fast Writing SQL Reports with SQL*Plus (Paperback)by John Garmany

    This book is probably better than head first SQL.

    July 27, 2009
    Two better SQL tuning books here:
    http://oracle-bubul.blogspot.com/2009/07/two-better-sql-tuning-books.html


    July 18 2009 list

    1. Oracle 10g Database Administration Concepts & Implementation Made Simple by Asim Abbasi
    2. Oracle 11g for dummies.
    3. SQL tuning by Dan Tow
    4. Oracle Performance Tunning 101 by Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha, Kirtikumar Deshpande
    5. Head First SQL by Lynn Beighley
    6. Expert Oracle Database Architecture by Thomas Kyte
    7. OCA: Oracle 10g Administration by Chip Dawes, Bob Bryla
    8. Selftestsoftware
    9. Linux for dummies
    10. Oracle online documentation (they are actually quite good)
    11. C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie



    Old list:


    Oracle is actually quite a big subject. But if you know the main concepts the rest is easy. So this is the book to start. Oracle Database Administration Concepts & Implementation Made Simple by Asim Abbasi.





    Then you study Sybex OCA to know which part you need to study first. Oracle is still quite big. You need to break it up into smaller pieces.






    Selftestsoftware is essential also for you to pass the OCA exam, and narrow down the area you need to study. It has clear explanation.






    But this is the best Oracle book. Clear, lucid, written in simple prose, makes the concepts of Oracle exiting. It is written by Oracle Oracle Thomas Kyte. Read all his books to become an Oracle guru, and enjoy life to the fullest.

    Expert Oracle Database Architecture. by Thomas Kyte






    Head First SQL: Your Brain on SQL -- A Learner's GuideGet started on SQL

    Oracle Database 10g Admin 1 Exam Cram (1Z0-042)
    Steve Cholerton
    A nice 66 pages of short notes of important points needed for OCA exam. Read this to get the main ideas of Oracle quickly.

    Professional Oracle Programming (Programmer to Programmer) This book provides a fast overview of Oracle where sybex missed, or Kyte Oracle architecture is too long winded.


    Other books

    Because normally dba starts by becoming programmers first and know a bit of linux/unix scripting. The following books can be read quickly:

    Oracle PL/SQL For Dummies Very fast and easy intro into solid plsql

    Linux All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Get a know a bit about linux


    A Practical Guide to Linux(R) Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming know a bit about linux shell scripting