Thread: In need of some pointers

Hello, i am new to this community, found you typing "java forums" in google lol (in case you were curious, totally irrelevant info for most haha).

My main goal for looking into forums is because i really need some pointers about several things which are quite specific and you don't really find those answers by just searching in google, at least those are not up to discussion if found. So i was wondering if someone can help me with this.

First i'd like to mention a bit of my background so you can get a general context.

I am a systems ingineer student (i believe it is called Computer Science in other countries, i am from El Salvador), been there for about 3-4 years, also was studying a technical in systems ingineering (or so i believe you'd translate it to something like that).
in all these years no one has ever taught me java, in college or the institute where i was getting the technical studies all i learned was .NET languages specifically VB, C++ and C# and i have coded basic things (which i doubt are useful) mp3 player, basic games like chess, tic tac toe, hanged. made a few applications like a program that saves everything that has been sent to the clipboard that being an image or string, stored it in text files with daily dates and the capability of opening in internet browser if there were valid links with just a click (was done in C#).

Went for java because of its portability, i don't have to pay a seriously expensive (for rich people in this country) license and because it can be web based and what i aim for is to code things like accounting systems, inventory and whatnot for the web.

So i'd love some pointers in:

What are the subjects i need to focus on in java to accomplish that?
What is the most recommended database (free if possible) platform/software (or however it's called in english >< ) to work with java? (it'd need to have huge storage capability since the systems are intented for small and medium companies).

while studying on that i would also love to get some income so i'd love to work in something that would make me practice my coding but while looking at the things needed in freelancer most of the things i have seriously absolutely no idea where do they learn that. in my 3-4 years in college they certainly didn't teach all those things, i honestly feel not capable of looking for a job as a programer as i feel insecure and overwhelmed while looking at the lists of "proyects" offered in freelancer for example.

How am i supposed to overcome that fear of not being able to do those things?
How am i supposed to start to learn how to do all those sort of things they ask for when i don't have the slighest idea of how to do most of them?

I am dedicated when it comes to coding, if i have something to code, if i have a goal set on what i need, i can code for more than 14 hours daily until it's done (unless i really need a break because i am seriously stuck on something).

If there is an experienced java programmer here who is willing to give me some pointers as in what to study, what do i need to start coding to learn what i need to know, to give me excercises (daily if possible, 2 or 3 times a week is fine too, anything), to basically be my teacher. I would greatly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I am willing to do it through skype, inbox messages here, facebook, twitter, or wherever you like.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Hikaros

What are the subjects i need to focus on in java to accomplish that?

Start at the beginning and have fun.

Originally Posted by Hikaros

What is the most recommended database (free if possible) platform/software (or however it's called in english >< ) to work with java? (it'd need to have huge storage capability since the systems are intented for small and medium companies).

If you can not find the answer to this on a search engine, usted no está buscando

Originally Posted by Hikaros

to give me excercises

Hang around the forum, people love to dump their homework assignments (daily). Search the forum for keywords like school, homework, and assignment

Good luck and welcome to the forum

I am not intending to be disrespectful, just telling you how it felt. Converting your entire post to 1 short sentence : Use the search option.
every single one of your answers in everything you quoted was basically that, "use the search option", might have as well copied and pasted it lol or just reply that to make it shorter since it seems that was the main point of it lol. But i guess i understand you are tired of seing the same kind of questions all over the place, however my questions and answers i am looking for are a bit more specific and not so general, that is why i took the time to type a little of the background. Why would i need to start learning everything from scratch when i just, basically, need the structure/syntax of how to code the things i have coded already in other languages? plus i've been studying it for like 3 months, every day, starting from scratch is a waste of time imo.

that being said, for the second and third quote's answer i wouldn't agree more with you i guess haha. I decided to ask instead of looking because i am tired of asking people and everybody tells me different things, they might be fanboys, idk.

Eitherway i searched through the forums and the most useful thing i read after like 1 hour is this:

Originally Posted by copeg

Be that as it may, and at the risk of this never being read or sounding 'elitist': my advice would be to skip JDBC for the moment. Become very familiar with SQL first. Learn about database normalization, how to manage a database (database files, schemas/databases, users, security, etc...), how to construct queries, joins, unions, indexing, primary keys, foreign keys and referential integrity, etc...any database will suffice (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc...) - while each has its intricacies the basics are fairly constant from one to the next (yes, which one you choose matters - some hosts only support certain systems, some are not amenable to embedding into an application, some have larger memory footprints, some have better procedural support, and some provide commercial support). I would not advise choosing your database because it is 'easiest' - you may end up being limited in other ways which force you to use the 'harder' one. PostgreSQL and MySQL are popular, free, and IMO good intro systems to learn the necessary subjects. Once familiar with SQL and database administration then move into JDBC, the transition should be much more smooth.

so i made some research about PostgreSQL and MySQL and it seems PostgreSQL is the way to go if i want to do what i want to do (about selling a system to small/med companies) since it is completely free. I read something about MySQL and i was reading things like buying licenses for commercial uses and those are seriously expensive as well. Is this correct? i'd like some advice as in what should i do about it? because i also remember someone saying i could use MySQL databases or something for free in companies or is it a lie? D:

Originally Posted by Hikaros

Converting your entire post to 1 short sentence : Use the search option.
it seems that was the main point of it lol.

Pretty much the point I admit

Originally Posted by Hikaros

Why would i need to start learning everything from scratch when i just, basically, need the structure/syntax of how to code the things i have coded already in other languages? plus i've been studying it for like 3 months, every day, starting from scratch is a waste of time imo.

Java stands almost alone in the quality of their tutorials, which is why it is so commonly suggested, but on to your point: Where else would I suggest you start? How should I know what syntax you know and what you do not?
I suggest you start at the beginning because that is the best place to start for anyone. If you encounter a topic you are comfortable with, feel free to scan over it or skip it entirely and move to the next subject. Not meaning to sound rude either but only you can determine what specifics you need.

I never bought a license for MySQL, so the only suggestion I have there is to search.
keywords MySQL + license

Originally Posted by jps

If you encounter a topic you are comfortable with, feel free to scan over it or skip it entirely and move to the next subject.

I guess you are right haha. It is just that i kind of wanted to rush it, but i don't think is a good idea after all so i'll take it easy.

Originally Posted by jps

I never bought a license for MySQL, so the only suggestion I have there is to search.

i did D:
MySQL :: MySQL Commercial License

according to that (if i didn't missunderstand) if i don't make whatever system i work on open source (which i can't since i need it for private companies and stuff) i need a commercial license D: MySQL :: MySQL Editions i'm not sure if i am missunderstading something there.

Originally Posted by Hikaros

i did D:
MySQL :: MySQL Commercial License

according to that (if i didn't missunderstand) if i don't make whatever system i work on open source (which i can't since i need it for private companies and stuff) i need a commercial license D: MySQL :: MySQL Editions i'm not sure if i am missunderstading something there.

I would say to forward such questions to your legal council. Again I only work under the GPL and open source projects, so not much else I can say about it, maybe someone else has a word or two they will throw in

So after some more research, yeah, i would need to pay a license if my project isn't open source (which is seriously expensive imo lol).

For future references in someone with the same needs take a look at this, basically i was looking for a DB with a BSD license which is actually free unlike a GPL where is free unless i don't make it open source.

GPL : GNU General Public License - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BSD : BSD licenses - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That being said i read Postgres is the way to go, so i will look into it. (I also read about Firebird Firebird: The true open source database for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and more some people loved it and some hated it, but i read to many complains to even want to try it. Might give it a try in the future though. Postgres is still the preferred choice)

Have you looked at Apache Derby? I don't believe it fits your criteria of being the same as BSD, but they have their own license. It's too much legal mumbo-jumbo for me, so I didn't get too far into it.

Good luck!

Oh wow i seriously didn't think about that, you are right, thanks! Will take that into consideration.