Do I need to know databases to succeed in tech?

Dec 24, 2021 27 Comments

I studied ece in undergrad and never learnt about databases beyond a few basic sql queries.
Joined MS directly in azure infra so never really needed it.
Will lack of DB knowledge work against me in the future. Seems like pretty important topic given all applications and business logic requires you to understand DB.

TC: 210k

169 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 27 Comments
  • TikTok
    g937hr

    Go to company page TikTok

    g937hr
    I haven't made a DB query since my third year of college.

    TC 320
    YoE 3.5
    Dec 24, 2021 2
  • NVIDIA
    ๐Ÿ‘‰-๐Ÿ‘ˆ

    Go to company page NVIDIA

    ๐Ÿ‘‰-๐Ÿ‘ˆ
    It is not a must to be an expert in DB to be successful in tech. I am making north of 500K as a software engineer and can barely put together an SQL query.
    Dec 24, 2021 1
  • Google
    gooooam

    Go to company page Google

    gooooam
    Lol not me with $470k TC and absolutely no understanding of how databases actually work under the hood and barely able to scrap together shitty SQL queries. I can figure out how to query them (probably sub-optimally), and I could run through a basic example of creating a couple tables and primary keys for an interview. But if you asked me how databases are actually implemented (eg how those lookups are actually executed optimally), I would be totally guessing.
    Dec 24, 2021 2
    • What team do you work for and what level?
      Dec 24, 2021
    • A lot of people outside tech see stuff like this and then claim tech workers are overpaid.

      Youโ€™re not getting 470k for your memorized knowledge on underlying implementations of various technologies. Youโ€™re getting paid that much because they know you could figure that shit out when you need to.
      Dec 24, 2021
  • Amazon
    laniakeaa

    Go to company page Amazon

    laniakeaa
    It isnโ€™t something you canโ€™t learn on the job. Youโ€™ll pick it up as and when you need it. Plus youโ€™re likely going to be using NoSQL(schemaless) databases in which case you donโ€™t really need relational database knowledge. Donโ€™t worry about it OP!
    Dec 24, 2021 2
    • Just wondering if I become manager some day and have a problem thrown at me which requires DB knowledge, would be embarrassing to not know at that moment. But in my work so far I have never really come across these discussions with anyone.
      Dec 24, 2021
    • Amazon
      laniakeaa

      Go to company page Amazon

      laniakeaa
      As a manager your primary role wouldnโ€™t be to solve DB problems right? It would be to manage the team achieve the North Star goals. Solving the problem would be for the devs.
      Dec 24, 2021
  • DB is really needed to understand end to end flow. Learn any SQL for ex postgres / MySQL and then try nosql.
    Dec 24, 2021 2
    • Do you mean learn the queries and how to write them, or take a full course that goes into internals and stuff
      Dec 24, 2021
    • Learn data modelling is what I am saying. Internals are not much needed. Learn specifics like LSMs / B-trees which differs from db to db at your own interest. Query language can also differ.
      Dec 24, 2021