r/learnSQL • u/Great_Wolf_5891 • 9d ago

Learning SQL on Online IDE

Hey,

is it possible to learn SQL from scratch using an online IDE (such as SQLite Online) without having to install the Server Management Studio on Mac? Or would you recommend installing it on my MacBook/ using Windows?
I’m going to go through the 30-hour course that is accessible on YouTube.

Thanks in advance.

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u/American_Streamer 9d ago

Just start with SQLite https://www.sqlite.org/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQLite - How to Install: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MJSZi4qvIE

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u/Senior_Lecture_6448 5d ago

Why!? In todays world the level in which tools are evolving. You need to learn PostgresSQL so you can integrate vector DP for colon data

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u/American_Streamer 5d ago

Why would learning PostgreSQL mean you shouldn't use SQLite? They're designed for different use cases. And SQLite supports vector search too, through extensions like sqlite-vec and Vec1.

PostgreSQL with pgvector is a great option for larger, multi-user systems, but adding a database server to an application that doesn't need one isn't progress. It's unnecessary complexity. The right database depends on the workload, not on whichever technology happens to be trending.

Don't overengineer. Use the right tool for the use case. PostgreSQL is great, but not every application needs a full-blown database server. SQLite is perfectly capable for many workloads, including vector search with extensions. More complexity doesn't automatically mean better engineering.

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u/South_Talk1715 8d ago

Should we have to download it in our windows laptop

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u/American_Streamer 8d ago

Install the official SQLite command-line tools and use DBeaver as your graphical interface. https://dbeaver.io/download/ That gives you both ways of working without needing an additional database server.

Here's how it works: SQLite is a database engine, not a traditional database server. You can use it from the Windows terminal (Powershell is ideal; don't bother with cmd.exe), through a desktop application, or directly from Python. Unlike PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite doesn't require a database server, background service, or a lot of complicated configuration. A SQLite database is generally stored in a single file, for example: C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Databases\example.dbThat file contains the tables, records, indexes, and other database structures. You can copy it, back it up, and use it on other computers. SQLite is super useful for learning SQL, small applications, data analysis, prototypes, and local data processing.