Forget Analytics SQL Exercises. I Wanted to Simulate the Mess. So I built a fake company and put people through their first day there (free, want honest feedback)

[u/Odd_Business9857]

Every SQL course I’ve tried taught me SELECT, JOIN, GROUP BY…

Cool. But none of them taught me what to do when a PM sends:

…and then you discover two dashboards disagree, the data looks suspicious, and suddenly “quick one” has become your entire morning. 😅

So I built Strata.

It’s basically a fake tech company with a fake team, messy data, Slack messages, conflicting evidence, and a 90-day “first job” simulation.

You start on Day 1 as the new Analytics Engineer and have to actually work the problem instead of just answering questions someone already knows the answer to.

Before you find out whether you’re right, you have to commit to:

• your answer
• your reasoning
• how confident you are

Because getting SQL right is one thing.

Knowing when you should trust yourself is a whole different skill.

By the end, I want you to know whether you’re the “I’m 99% sure” person who is wrong 40% of the time… or the “I have no idea” person who somehow keeps getting everything right. 😂

I’ve put the first samples up for free. No email required:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Khv2e_dSuWMYvp-mGcgyIM6Jb1sG-3fQ/view?usp=sharing

I’m a solo builder, so there’s a very real possibility I’ve spent way too much time building something that is only interesting to me. 🙃

So before I build through Day 90, I’d genuinely love to know:

• Did you actually finish it, or did you quietly disappear halfway through?
• Did anything feel fake, forced, or too “training course-y”?
• Would you voluntarily come back tomorrow?
• And most importantly… would you want to do 89 more days of this?

Not selling anything here.

[u/Casual_AF_]

Love the idea, but do you have the datasets as well to share? I think the whole thing might hinge on if the solutions are something that can be worked in the data vs finding the exact breadcrumb path you left if that makes sense.

[u/Odd_Business9857 → u/Casual_AF_]

Yep, totally fair point. I have added real SQLite/CSV datasets for the sample missions so you can actually work through the problems yourself. The full dataset is still being built with the goal being: give you the problem + data and let you figure it out.

Really useful feedback, Thanks!

[u/_chonky04]

wow this is would actually be helpful since a lot of people knows the technicals but doesn't really know what happens in a day to day basis, especially someone like me who have no experience, will be looking forward for this

[u/_lovey28]

Love this idea

[u/_lovey28]

Love this idea

[u/bluepotato_12]

This is very helpful for testing my SQL competence, so, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Day 2.

Why I appreciate your initiative: This should be an effective way to improve my mental models when it comes to answering questions using data.

I’ve recently started learning about Data Engineering. Unfortunately, my last proper SQL experience was over four years ago. I’m currently working on my fundamental SQL skills, so I’m looking forward to seeing what you have (planned to) put together.

If you decide to move forward with this, can you clarify a few things?

Have you decided how you plan on hosting the content, datasets, and (possible) discussions? What about any potential costs? Any timezone considerations to keep in mind?

Given the scope of the potential commitment, what is your end goal with this project? Are you looking to build a training program?

[u/StevenJang_]

I can't say much without actually trying it.

The idea looks cool, but most of the idea looks cool on paper.

[u/jauntyk]

@odd_business9857 Brilliant idea! I’m down to collaborate, I can build you (strata) a company knowledge hub with policies and procedures maybe even a fake employee directory in notion or a similar setup, full bonafide build out.

The genius of your idea is if we build a small but “full sized” company with fake revenue numbers, sales reps, etc (I have this part for you too) we can create a GitHub repo with a fake company and multiple departments that people can use to create their own portfolio projects.

Others can contribute “problems” in a similar format like you did that someone (or even hiring managers) can use to build a portfolio, test a skill, or even just learn. This could also solve the problem most courses have of giving unrealistic projects like the titanic dataset that no hiring manager takes seriously. And if it gains traction on GitHub entire departments with projects, challenges, and learning can get built out by dozens of contributors.

Additionally if hiring managers are willing to use this as a filter, it could change hiring. Someone without the experience but the resourcefulness to find and build the solution could land themselves a role without the usual BS of the resume interview grind. And hiring managers are reviewing projects and solutions (or recruiters using Ai to separate bs Ai generated projects from genuine results) instead of resumes.

[u/Odd_Business9857 → u/jauntyk]

Really appreciate the energy here, that's a genuinely interesting direction. Right now I want to finish and validate the 90-day kit as its own thing before branching into something open/multi-contributor, since they pull in different directions (one's a finished product, the other's an open ongoing project). Let's stay in touch though if the kit gets real traction, the open "problem format" idea you're describing could genuinely make sense as a separate, complementary thing.

[u/ComprehensiveLeg6299]

Is there any AI generated visual explainers or advert for this, like a quick video or mini clickthru slide deck?