I specialize in Oracle. I know a little relational theory. How
important is it to learn more? Where can I find good sources on
research into new types of databases, etc... that is non-vendor
specific?

As a database professional, the more you educate on data management
fundamentals the better for you and the more you'll able to filter out
nonsense from facts. And IMO, that is much more important in current
database industry that being a product "specialist".


Books! Check out the local library, use online sources like citeseer, acm
digital library etc.

--
-- Anith
( Please reply to newsgroups only )

"Ryan Gaffuri" <rgaffuri (AT) cox (DOT) net> wrote

That totally depends how ambitious your goals are. Is constant learning your
guiding principle?

There is also studying theory vs. learning oracle dilemma. Too many
practitioners take vendor's implementation as a gospel, so you are on the
right track here.

Note, then when progressing in your studying you would become less and less
interested in DBA job. Although DBA needs to have some analytical skills for
performance tuning, for example, his routine are mechanical tasks of backup,
maintenance, and other boring stuff, that would be automated in a decade or
so. Therefore, if I were DBA, I wouldn't feel myself secure in a long term.

As far as books are concerned, studying Date's Introduction is a good push
into the field. If you become interested in a particular subject, then
Date's bibliography notes is also a good start.

Be careful not to jump to Abiteboul&Hull&Vianu Alice book and citeseer
papers too soon, as the bar there is significantly higher. Among the papers,
reviews are almost always enjoyable to read (with the rare exceptioins like
Graafe optimization) and they wiould funel your enthusiasm.