john-norris.net

Like last week’s effort with Regular Expressions, I’ve been piecing together SQL queries for some time now and decided to work through a lite tutorial. I noticed the website with the Regular Expressions tutorial also offered SQL; so I jumped into SQLBolt.

I am much more familiar with SQL than Reg Ex, but there are areas where my knowledge is thin. Above all, it was a good for me to do exercises in a different domain, where I got to use arithmetic, as well create/update tables.

SQLBolt did a good job of breaking down the basics. SQL is a large topic, and the SQLBolt‘s format was a bit strained to capture all that was needed to understand each lesson. However, it was not overwhelming and the gratification the interactivity provides helps keep one motivated.

To clean up data for analysis, I’ve had to dip my toes into regular expressions. For example, writing a line of instructions that can separate first and last names and removing middle ones from a list of people.

To do this, I use the tool Notepad++, a free text editor whose find-and-replace allows for regular expressions.

However, for far too long I’ve relied on searching the web for snippets of instruction that will fill the immediate need. So I this morning I went through the RegexOne series of lessons and practice problems. They do a great job of breaking down the areas, providing instruction, problem sets, and interactivity. I highly recommend this course. (I even gave them a donation.)