Subj : Re: Free Oracle
To   : comp.programming,comp.lang.java.programmer,comp.lang.lisp
From : Shiro Kawai
Date : Tue Sep 06 2005 01:03 am

Followup set to comp.programming.

Robert Maas, see http://tinyurl.com/uh3t wrote:

> So that's yet another reason I wouldn't be able to install it on my
> personal account on my Unix ISP shell account. So the next time
> somebody tells me I should learn Oracle, I can tell them to Fuck Off
> not once but three times (disk, RAM, root).

HP offers testdrive where you can evaluate their various platforms
with software, including Oracle.  It's free to get a telnet account.

http://www.testdrive.hp.com/

> So back on topic: Is there any employer who would hire me for an
> entry-level position programming with Java or CommonLisp (CL) through
> ODBC to Oracle which they already have installed on their monstrous
> computer whose shell is accessible from here via TELNET or SSH? I've
> never used Oracle, and can't ever until you hire me, but I already know
> how to write Java/ODBC code that works equally well with MicroSoft
> ACCESS and CloudScape/Derby, so I think I'm well qualified for an
> entry-level Oracle position.

What you describe about Java/ODBC doens't count much in terms
of qualification.  Since learning APIs is one of the easiest
part of the job, I'd rather seek for the right attitude towards
solving problems, rather than knowledge of particular technology,
as the qualification for an entry position.  BTW, being good at
finding excuses not to do things earns a big negative score.

If you want your experience counted, I suggest to include how
much size your ODBC project was (approx. number of records,
number of transactions, number of users, years you maintained it,
etc), unless it was just a toy project.   If you say you had
millions of records and dealt with tens of transactions per second,
for example, that counts.  Even when it's a small size database,
if it was actively used by lots of users and you've maintaned
it for years, it counts.

.