Comments on: What’s The Easiest Paid Programmer Gig? http://www.pcmech.com/article/whats-the-easiest-paid-programmer-gig/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tony Crofthttp://www.pcmech.com/article/whats-the-easiest-paid-programmer-gig/comment-page-1/#comment-25217 Tony Croft Wed, 27 May 2009 22:45:11 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/whats-the-easiest-paid-programmer-gig/#comment-25217 Well, yes and know. understanding the Access interface itself wont get you very far (most people learn that at school these days), you will need strong SQL and VBA to get anywhere in the Access/Office consulting market. Of those 2, SQL is paramount; if you don't know what the difference is between a correlated subquery and an in-line view then your SQL is probably not good enough. People think that because they can link a few tables together they can build an application; it is actually quite difficult to get a smooth-running app. built using Access (it was never built for that purpose). People also need to learn the techniques for multi-user environments; most companies paying for Access knowledge want split databases not single-user desktop solutions. This brings in some unique issues.All in all, as someone who makes there living at this, I would say Access can be a way in to programming for many, but only if you already have the behind the scenes building blocks, a basic understanding of programming concepts, e.g. control structures, and a fundamental grasp of SQL. People in business often start by saying "I just want this report" ....well, that can take a day if you have a populated db already with documentation supplied or 3months or more if you have to build an app from scratch. Businesses naturally focus on the end-result, but as a db programmer you need to think about all the steps that need to be taken to get you there. You sometimes have to explain to the user (in terms that wont get your fired) why it can take 3months for a simple Report....that is not always easy.If that doesn't put you off then you are probably right for programming and Access in particular...there is nothing like being thrown in the deep-end and having to solve a real busiiness problem.Tony Well, yes and know. understanding the Access interface itself wont get you very far (most people learn that at school these days), you will need strong SQL and VBA to get anywhere in the Access/Office consulting market. Of those 2, SQL is paramount; if you don’t know what the difference is between a correlated subquery and an in-line view then your SQL is probably not good enough. People think that because they can link a few tables together they can build an application; it is actually quite difficult to get a smooth-running app. built using Access (it was never built for that purpose). People also need to learn the techniques for multi-user environments; most companies paying for Access knowledge want split databases not single-user desktop solutions. This brings in some unique issues.

All in all, as someone who makes there living at this, I would say Access can be a way in to programming for many, but only if you already have the behind the scenes building blocks, a basic understanding of programming concepts, e.g. control structures, and a fundamental grasp of SQL. People in business often start by saying “I just want this report” ….well, that can take a day if you have a populated db already with documentation supplied or 3months or more if you have to build an app from scratch. Businesses naturally focus on the end-result, but as a db programmer you need to think about all the steps that need to be taken to get you there. You sometimes have to explain to the user (in terms that wont get your fired) why it can take 3months for a simple Report….that is not always easy.

If that doesn’t put you off then you are probably right for programming and Access in particular…there is nothing like being thrown in the deep-end and having to solve a real busiiness problem.

Tony

]]> By: BobhereYohttp://www.pcmech.com/article/whats-the-easiest-paid-programmer-gig/comment-page-1/#comment-25094 BobhereYo Tue, 26 May 2009 02:57:52 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/article/whats-the-easiest-paid-programmer-gig/#comment-25094 Rich,Outstanding point!! Now I am not looking for a job but I can see the high value for companies who for the most part do everything on Spreadsheets so taking them up to a level like Access is a whole new world of better reporting and increased productivity. Rich,

Outstanding point!! Now I am not looking for a job but I can see the high value for companies who for the most part do everything on Spreadsheets so taking them up to a level like Access is a whole new world of better reporting and increased productivity.

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