Basic Database Choices

For the newbie.

Q: Which certifications should I start with if I want to become a database administrator? Should I go with Oracle or Microsoft as a DBA?

A: It depends upon how much time you have and what your employment situation is. If you’re in a large company that is not particularly demanding of your time (ie you have 1 or 2 hours a day to pursue non-project work) AND they have Oracle, then go for Oracle. Chances are there will be other Oracle folks to help you out too. If you’re on your own and more entrepreneurial, go for SQL Server. If you’re entrepreneurial, sharp and competent in Linux and a programming language or two, then go for Postgres.

MSSQL is the database of choice for small and medium sized businesses that are typically found in business parks and small office buildings. It’s very straightforward to learn and you are much more likely to get full responsibility for a project when you are competent on MSSQL.

Oracle is the database of choice for large companies. You will probably share responsibilities for one of many applications but there will be a lot of people slapping your hands along the way. You will also much more likely encounter old crufty code that few people understand why they did it that way. Also there will be a million switches and buttons and knobs and dials that are set in a particular way because people either had too much time on their hands, or were trying to squeeze the last ounce of performance out of an overburdened server.

Oracle is not fundamentally more complicated, just eventually got more complicated. It’s the hoarder’s database. On the other hand, it’s like a US Passport. It will get you anywhere you want to go, whether or not they hate you when you get there. And it generally pays more to have the Oracle job.

MSSQL is cleaner, simpler, 80% as powerful and generally a less headachy environment. Then again, it’s only for Windows and it generally is not used for Enterprise applications. IE it’s probably not the backend for SAP. It could be though.

Postgres is the purist’s database. It’s very mature and the people who use it are generally very smart. Which is to say they’re not seduced by corporate business speak. You’ll likely find it where people use Macs and cloud and Linux and look at you strange and condescendingly if you don’t. Postgres is cleaner because the developers have generally taken the time to work with it with real languages instead of overburdening SQL with administrative tasks.

MySQL is like a kid on a dirtbike. Everybody loves their first dirtbike.. Some people trick out their dirtbikes to do amazing flips. It’s still a dirtbike. Stick with four wheels. MySQL is limited in its capabilities to handle larger amounts of data. You’ll have to start doing tricks with it.

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The best database applications are those that can easily be replicated into other databases. In the long term, you’re better off using pure ANSI SQL, which means Postgres. Otherwise you will become dependent on the quirks of PL/SQL (Oracle) or T-SQL (Microsoft). If all you want to do is be a DBA and lord over the installation, Oracle is your best bet. If you want to develop applications, MSSQL and Postgres are your best bets. MySQL is a good bet there too, depending upon your tolerance for startups and other places where they try to get everything done for free (including your talent).

But specifically to your question. The most bang for the buck you are going to get by adding a database certification to your resume will be with the Oracle cert. More larger companies that pay higher salaries will respect the Oracle pedigree. MSSQL is close behind. You will know more about pure database stuff when you play with MSSQL because all of its pieces and parts are all there, whereas very obscure and expensive utilities are sold separately by Oracle and people make a big deal about knowing them; things like RAC and GoldenGate.

On the other hand, the future is with databases like CockroachDB and Snowflake. These are cloud-based with almost zero administrative overhead. The future of database administration is that they are self-administered except for security matters. You can focus on design and implementation. I highly recommend that you go try CockroachDB today. It’s free for development.