SQL Masterclass

From SELECT to window functions, then into Python and R.

A hands-on path from installing PostgreSQL to writing joins, window functions, and CTEs against a real DVD-rental database. Then connect SQL to Python and R, ship a capstone library app, and prep for interviews.

beginnersqldatabasesqueriespostgresql

36 capsules137 figures~7 hoursby Dr. Raj Dandekar

Read on your Kindle or e-reader

Download the EPUB and read offline — perfect for the train. Works on Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books & more.

Send to Kindle →

00Getting Started4 capsules

Getting Started — 4 chapters.

01Why SQL Still Runs the Worldintuitionfree11 min 02What Is SQL? Declarative Queries vs Imperative Codeconceptfree11 min 03Installing PostgreSQL and pgAdmin 4code🔒12 min 04Loading the DVD Rental Sample Databasecode🔒10 min

01Database Foundations5 capsules

Database Foundations — 5 chapters.

05What Is a Database? Core Terminologyconcept🔒11 min 06The Relational Model: Tables, Primary Keys, Foreign Keysconcept🔒12 min 07Relational vs NoSQL: Two Ways to Store Dataintuition🔒11 min 08ACID vs BASE: Guarantees a Database Makesdeep-dive🔒11 min 09Data Types and Schema Designconcept🔒11 min

02Basic SQL Commands7 capsules

Basic SQL Commands — 7 chapters.

10CREATE TABLE: Defining Your First Tablecode🔒12 min 11INSERT: Putting Data Into Tablescode🔒11 min 12SELECT: Reading Datacode🔒11 min 13Filtering Rows with WHEREcode🔒12 min 14Sorting and Limiting: ORDER BY and LIMITcode🔒9 min 15UPDATE and DELETE: Changing Data Safelycode🔒11 min 16Aggregation: COUNT, SUM, GROUP BY, and HAVINGcode🔒12 min

03Advanced SQL: Joins and Window Functions6 capsules

Advanced SQL: Joins and Window Functions — 6 chapters.

17Joins, Intuitively: Combining Tablesintuition🔒10 min 18INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, and FULL OUTER JOINcode🔒11 min 19Window Functions: RANK vs DENSE_RANKdeep-dive🔒9 min 20OVER and PARTITION BY: The Window Frameconcept🔒11 min 21Pattern Matching with LIKE and Wildcardscode🔒11 min 22Subqueries and CTEs (WITH)code🔒11 min

04Solving Advanced SQL Problems4 capsules

Solving Advanced SQL Problems — 4 chapters.

23A Framework for Hard Queriesintuition🔒11 min 24Worked Problem: Replace Employee ID with Its Identifierproject🔒11 min 25Worked Problem: Product Sales Analysisproject🔒12 min 26Worked Problem: Rank Scoresproject🔒10 min

05SQL with Python and R5 capsules

SQL with Python and R — 5 chapters.

27Connecting Python to PostgreSQL with psycopg2code🔒12 min 28From Query to DataFrame: Analyzing in Pandascode🔒11 min 29Visualizing SQL Data in Pythonproject🔒10 min 30Connecting R to PostgreSQL with DBI and RPostgrescode🔒10 min 31Visualizing SQL Data in R with ggplot2project🔒11 min

06Capstone and Interview Prep5 capsules

Capstone and Interview Prep — 5 chapters.

32Capstone: Designing the Library Databaseproject🔒11 min 33Capstone: CRUD Operations from Pythonproject🔒12 min 34Query Optimization and Indexesdeep-dive🔒11 min 35SQL Interview Tips and Tricksintuition🔒12 min 36Putting It All Togetherconcept🔒13 min

Ratings & reviews

1,399 readers

4.2

284 ratings

5 ★45%

4 ★29%

3 ★14%

2 ★6%

1 ★6%

Rate this book

Daniel Okafor

2 weeks ago

Loved the from-first-principles approach. It rebuilt my intuition rather than just handing me formulas.

Liam Chen

3 months ago

Beautifully produced and genuinely deep. The reader experience makes it easy to keep going for hours.

Rahul Verma

4 months ago

Concise capsules I can finish over coffee, yet each one taught me something I actually use.

Omar Haddad

5 months ago

Rare mix of depth and readability. The worked examples are the clearest I have seen on this subject.

Grace Sullivan

7 months ago

The hand-drawn diagrams make abstract ideas click instantly. Wish every technical book was written like this.