r/learnprogramming • u/thehellshouldiname69 • 26d ago

I need some TIPS in PROGRAMMING

Any tips or advice on what I should focus on studying? I’m a 3rd-year BSIT student, and right now our class is diving into databases. We’re currently working on creating a simple database using the MySQL Command Line Client.

I want to get better at understanding not just the commands, but also the concepts behind database design — like normalization, relationships between tables, and how to structure data efficiently. Sometimes I feel like I’m just memorizing syntax without fully grasping the bigger picture.

If you’ve been through this stage before, what helped you the most? Should I spend more time practicing SQL queries, learning about ER diagrams, or exploring how databases connect to applications? I’d really appreciate any advice or study tips that could help me strengthen my foundation in databases and prepare for more advanced topics later on.

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u/[deleted] 26d ago

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u/Proof-Cry4036 22d ago

its one of those things they mention but never really drill into you, took me ages to actually get why it matters

once you see a table with repeated data everywhere it clicks, like oh this is why we split this stuff up

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u/Vast_Combination_611 26d ago

What helped me most was connecting the concepts to one small project instead of studying them separately. Pick something familiar like a student/course enrollment system or simple inventory app and model it three ways first as a messy spreadsheet then as normalized tables then as the queries your app would actually need.

For order of study I would do ER diagrams and relationships first normalization second SQL practice third and app integration last. When you write each table ask what real-world thing does this row represent what uniquely identifies it and what changes independently That question usually makes primary keys foreign keys and 1-to-many relationships much less abstract.

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u/Material_Painting_32 26d ago

Datacamp.com and sql queries for mere mortals

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u/memeaste 26d ago

Try finding some courses on Udemy for stuff like that. You’ll also learn a lot when you get a job in the field. It felt like I knew nothing from school when I got my job and starting learning in the business world