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Oracle Beginnings - Where to Start?
Scalli0n asks: "I'm a programmer with a solid computer science background, but I'd like to know where I should start with the behemoth that is Oracle - my bosses tell me that I need to learn it to store geodatabases (since I work with geospatial intelligence) and I have no clue where to start since nobody can even tell me of a good beginners book - any suggestions?"
Fair enough. Actually, the chain of events went Physics degree -> playing bass in a band and sleeping on strange people's floors -> working at http://www.acxiom.com/ -> then moving on. So, I guess I needed some stability at the time. I considered continuing on with physics, but I really don't think I was cut out for it. I'm guessing most people don't stumble into a degree in physics, but I did somehow. At Acxiom I managed the marketing database for Schering-Plough for roughly 2 years and then moved into application programming, and then quit. I actually really enjoyed the work while at acxiom. The large corp thing was pretty depressing. But, heh, you can always quit...and I did.
Your applications may be different from those I've worked with (being that I am a geographer, not a programmer). When you mention geodatabases the first thing that popped into my head was GIS ( http://www.gis.com/ ). And my first solution was to recommend taking a night class twice a week and get your company to reimburse you upon succesful completion of the course. If GIS is what you are interested in interfacing with there should be a university in your area that will cover what you need to know. If not, look into http://www.opengeospatial.org/ Assuming it is GIS that you are working with. Good luck.