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May 4th

Question and Answer

Connor McDonald

Thanks for the question, Gaurang.

Asked: April 04, 2016 - 8:45 pm UTC

Last updated: April 06, 2016 - 12:26 am UTC

Version: 11.2

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You Asked

Hello Tom - What is the future of Oracle database. Now a days cloud, no SQL database, big data AKA Hadoop are buzz words so wondering future prospects of Oracle database/PLSQL/APEX etc jobs/ growth etc.

Appreciate any insights.

and Connor said...

Yeah, we're all doomed.

Just kidding. I think its an exciting time for anyone involved with *data* and hence databases.

Big data etc are all just reinforcements of what we as database professionals have been saying for so long, that applications and application technology come and go, but the value of *data* is permanent.

And as long the importance of data continues to grow, the need for windows into that data (apex, reports, web pages, data analysis, etc etc) will be present. Whether the data is in relational, document, sharded, ACID or BASE really wont matter too much - and there will be lots of technologies we'll use to access it seamlessly. And SQL skills will become more important than ever.

"Data matures like wine, applications mature like fish" :-)

But you're correct in one sense - if your job is doing something that can (and should) be automated, eg, you check that the backups run ok each night, then your future is limited.

Others welcome to share their thoughts.

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Comments

Sandeep Mishra, April 05, 2016 - 11:50 am UTC

What about introducing Artificial Intelligence, into the database, to an extent it tunes itself in all possible level. I did not hesitated going fictional, because in 19th century going to moon was a fiction. If a robot can learn from observation, why not a database?

Thanks and Regards,
Sandeep

Data is King

John, April 05, 2016 - 7:05 pm UTC

As has just been said, data is king. It is the life blood of so many organisations that it can't be overstated.

Despite the arrival of so many alternatives, none even come close to the search power of say google. Until google's methods are publicly available (and all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes) nothing will beat well formed, organised searchable data.

As for AI, well artificial stupidity of more likely to be true. Humanity is not privy to the algorithm for intelligence. Anyone who's had the pleasure of dealing with machine generated code (e.g. HQL) knows that software is no more capable of writing a cohesive system than it is of becoming self-aware. Provided you're not trying to be a cheap alternative to an automaton (as already stated) you just need to think. That one function alone differentiates us from computers, so do more of it. The most sublime software on the planet has an IQ of zero, so outdoing it shouldn't be all that hard :)

Rihaz Karady, April 05, 2016 - 7:35 pm UTC

Isn't Oracle Corp is pushing towards cloud services , Where traditional DBAs have lost autonomy ( in performance tuning , storage management , proactive monitoring , .... ) .



Chris Saxon
April 06, 2016 - 12:26 am UTC

"Where traditional DBAs have lost autonomy ( in performance tuning , storage management , proactive monitoring , .... )"

I disagree to some extent. Cloud will allow "traditional DBAs" to focus more on things that are more directly related to business value. For example, rather than seeing if server CPU is at x%, they'll be able to direct more energies toward tuning particular SQL's, or particular parts of App.

Because users/customers (quite rightly) dont care about storage metrics, or server CPU etc etc...what they care about is "Does my app run like I'd like it to". DBA's will be more aligned to meeting that goal if they can offload the more mundane items of general server management (in my opinion).


It's about the costs

Marcus, April 06, 2016 - 6:50 am UTC

What I can see and hear from my "network" is, that many companies move away from Oracle to "cheaper" DBMS whenever possible. Mostly because of the licence costs, especially the problems if you want to use VMs other than Virtual Box.
I'm sure we will still use Oracle in the forseeable future for our core applications (insurance business) but all peripheral systems will be migrated.
I don't fear that my know how will be useless very soon but the job opportunities for "Oracle only" developers become less.
Though I can always fresh up my C/Java/..., that's not what I like best :-)

Look for a new book by Guy Harrison

Scott Wesley, April 08, 2016 - 3:32 am UTC

Within cooee of seeing this in my Twitter feed I also saw a review of a new book from Guy Harrison that seems totally on topic.

"Next Generation Databases: NoSQL, NewSQL, and Big Data"
http://www.i-programmer.info/bookreviews/21-database/9563-next-generation-databases-nosql-newsql-and-big-data.html

Having seen his presentations before, I look forward to reading this.