I'm currently studying database management and working on projects for class using my Acer laptop, which is now running Linux Mint Debian Edition 7 after I switched from my previous dual-boot setup. All my classmates use SQL Server Express, but I've been struggling to get it to work on Linux, even though my professor is okay with me using PostgreSQL instead. He's not too familiar with PostgreSQL since most people in my area mainly work with Oracle, MySQL/MariaDB, or SQL Server. Given this situation, I'm wondering if I should be worried about potential compatibility issues or extra work needed to adapt projects from SQL Server to PostgreSQL, or if I can expect things to go smoothly with just a few adjustments. What should I keep in mind?
3 Answers
PostgreSQL is a great choice if you're looking to get a better grasp on proper SQL practices. SQL Server often encourages a more streamlined approach that can mask some complexities. If you need to connect to SQL Server from your Linux setup, installing the Microsoft ODBC Driver and using `sqlcmd` is apparently the easiest way. Just keep in mind that relying on Azure might not be ideal since it's all about Microsoft subscriptions.
You're all set to use PostgreSQL for your university projects! It's compliant with standard SQL, so it'll handle most things pretty easily. That said, there are some differences in syntax and features between PostgreSQL and SQL Server, particularly with dates and strings. Just stick with ANSI SQL and avoid any vendor-specific features, and you should be all good!
There will definitely be some differences between PostgreSQL and SQL Server. But don't stress too much! While AI tools can help you with troubleshooting, it's hard to predict what tasks might come up that could affect your work. Have you considered using SQL Server through Docker? It can run smoothly on Linux and Microsoft offers an official version for it, which might be worth checking out!
It's a small project for a family delivery app that I'll use as a grad project later. I haven't tried Docker before because I prefer native installs, but if it works well, I might give it a shot.
True, SQL Server has some non-ANSI compliant features, like the TOP operator. It also doesn’t format queries by default, but you have options for that with any DBMS.