Joe Celko's Analytics and OLAP in SQL

by Joe Celko

Before SQL programmers could begin working with OLTP (On-Line Transaction Processing) systems, they had to unlearn procedural, record-oriented programming before moving on to SQL's declarative, set-oriented programming. This book covers the next step in your growth. OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing), Data Warehousing and Analytics involve seeing data in the aggregate and over time, not as single transactions. Once more it is time to unlearn what you were previously taught.This book is not an in-depth look at particular subjects, but an overview of many subjects that will give the working RDBMS programmers a map of the terra incognita they will face-if they want to grow.* Expert advice from a noted SQL authority and award-winning columnist, who has given ten years of service to the ANSI SQL standards committee and many more years of dependable help to readers of online forums.* First book that teaches what SQL programmers need in order to successfully make the transition from transactional systems (OLTP) into the world of data warehouse data and OLAP.* Offers real-world insights and lots of practical examples.* Covers the OLAP extensions in SQL-99; ETL tools, OLAP features supported in DBMSs, other query tools, simple reports, and statistical software.

Genres: Programming, Computer Science

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2006

Reviews

[Robins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Celko is where they say the plot thickens. If you've read his other 'Smarties' book (Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties: Advanced SQL Programming), you'll know that his command over SQL is such that even experts sit-back and listen. [Personally, the number of times I did an 'a-ha' while reading that book (Smarties) was what drove me to read this one]

However, (sadly) I didn't find this book (OLAP) very helpful. Very soon into the book, it gets a little too deep into theoretical concepts which is something I amn't into yet (Hint, I am still jumping into this domain, but have been around SQL for a while)

The book otherwise, was an eye opener for a few ways of looking at OLAP requirements, but there too, I believe most OLAP tools nowadays are so customized with proprietary solutions that some of this either isn't needed to be done manually or is done very differently everywhere. But yes, for someone who is still learning, the basic understanding of what is happening under the hood, is helpful in understanding what those chrome fitted tools do.

All in all, 3/5. Not more.