DEV Community: Oreofe Towobola

I Finally Started Learning SQL. Here's What Clicked for Me.

Oreofe Towobola — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:39:02 +0000

SQL was one of those things I kept pushing down my learning list.

I knew databases were important, but whenever I thought about SQL, I imagined tables, rows, and something that looked suspiciously like Excel. It never seemed exciting enough to prioritize.

Recently, I decided to stop avoiding it and started working through an introductory SQL course. What surprised me wasn't that SQL became easy overnight. It was how quickly the fundamentals started making sense once I began writing queries myself.

SQL Felt More Like English Than Programming

It first starts with special words called clauses
CLAUSES are reserved words that when used give the system a particular task to perform in respect to the table
examples are:

SELECT * FROM employees;

Breaking it down helped:

SELECT is a clause that tells the database what data to return.

(Wildcard character) means all columns. FROM is a clause that specifies the table.

So the query simply means:

Show me everything from the employees table.

That was my first realization: SQL isn't about telling the database how to find data. It's about describing what data you want.

Tables Started Making Sense

I also learned that databases organize information into tables made up of rows and columns. Each row represents a record, while each column stores a specific piece of information. Once I understood that structure, queries felt much less abstract.

Creating and Adding Data

Creating a table looked like this:

CREATE TABLE employees (
id INTEGER,
name TEXT,
role TEXT
);

each columns follow a structure namely.

column_1 data_type,
column_2 data_type,
column_3 data_type.

which is the column parameters with its name and associated parameters.

This defines the structure of the data.

Then I could add information using:

INSERT INTO employees
VALUES (1, 'David', 'Developer');

This would be a good example with parameters of artistes filled in

At that point the workflow clicked:

CREATE TABLE **creates the structure.
**INSERT INTO adds records.
SELECT retrieves records.
**WHERE **Quickly Became My Favorite Clause

I found the WHERE clause especially useful:

SELECT * FROM employees
WHERE role = 'Developer';

Instead of returning every record, it filters results based on a condition.

It sounds simple, but this was the moment I started seeing why SQL is so powerful.

Small Mistakes Can Have Big Consequences

I also learned that SQL commands can be deceptively simple.

UPDATE employees
SET role = 'Senior Developer'
**WHERE **id = 1;

The WHERE clause limits the update to a specific row.

Without it:

UPDATE employees
SET role = 'Senior Developer';

every row gets updated.

The same applies to:

DELETE FROM employees
WHERE id = 1;

versus:

DELETE FROM employees;

One deletes a record. The other deletes all records.

That lesson stuck with me.

Databases Have Rules Too

Toward the end of the module, I learned about constraints like PRIMARY KEY, NOT NULL, and UNIQUE. These rules help databases maintain data quality and prevent invalid information from being stored.

Final Thoughts

My biggest takeaway so far is that SQL isn't nearly as intimidating as I imagined.

Most of the keywords are surprisingly descriptive. SELECT selects, INSERT inserts, UPDATE updates, and DELETE deletes.

I'm still early in the learning process, but SQL already feels less like mysterious database magic and more like a practical tool that every developer should know.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't learning the technology.

It's finally starting.

LINUX VM MONITORING WITH AZURE MONITOR

Oreofe Towobola — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:03:58 +0000

CREATING A LINUX VIRTUAL MACHINE

In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter "Virtual Machines" and select it from the results.

Choose "Create" and select "Azure Virtual Machine."

On the Basics page, select Linux as the operating system and configure the VM size, region, and other settings as needed.

Complete the creation process and wait for the VM to deploy.

INSTALLING THE AZURE MONITOR AGENT ON LINUX VM

In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter "Data Collection Rules" and select it.
Click "+ Create" to start a new data collection rule.
Provide a name for the rule, select your subscription, resource group, and region matching your Linux VM.
Set the platform type to Linux.
Under Resources, add your Linux VM to the rule.
In the Collect and Deliver tab, add a data source such as Performance Counters.
Under Destination, add Azure Monitor Logs and select the Log Analytics workspace.
Review and create the data collection rule. This automatically deploys the Azure Monitor Agent extension to your Linux VM.

VERIFYING AGENT INSTALLATION AND DATA INGESTION

Navigate to your Log Analytics workspace in the Azure Portal.
Select "Logs" from the workspace menu.
Switch to KQL mode and run the query:

How I Hosted My App on Microsoft Azure App Service

Oreofe Towobola — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:12:39 +0000

How I Hosted My App on Microsoft Azures App service

After building Solar system, the next challenge was getting it online so others could access it.

In this article, I'll walk through how I deployed the application AppService, the issues I encountered, and the lessons I learned along the way.

We will go through

How I setup the web app
How I configured the hosting environment
How I deployed the application
Challenges I faced and how I solved them
Key lessons from the experience

About the Application

Before diving into deployment, here's a quick overview of the app.

Features

it just a simple App that just shows the rotation of the earth and moon

Tech Stack

Frontend: HTML, CSS and js
Backend: none
Database: none
Hosting Platform: Microsoft Azure

Prerequisites

Before deploying the application, I made sure I had:

An account on the Azure
Source code for my app
stable internet connection
Deployment-ready application

Step 1: Preparing the Application

logging on to microsoft azure platform dashboard

Step 2: Creating the Resource group

Next, I created a new resource group.

The process involved:

Using the search bar to look for resource groups
clicking on the icon
selecting your subscription
Choosing a region
Reviewing and creating the resource

Step 3: Creating an App Service resource.

After creating the hosting resource, I want to create a new web app on the app service.
Steps:

Using the search bar to look for App service
Click on creating a new web app
Give it a name and select a resource group
Configure the web according to your needs

Name and resource group selection

plan and Operating system selection

Step 4: Configuring the App

this is the overview of the newly created app

The Newly created app is empty so when the url is accessed it is blank.

Step 5: Deploying the Application

With everything configured, I initiated the deployment.

I access the Kudu Environment

click on the debug console

click on the "site"

click on the "wwwroot"

click on the HTML Document

Replace the default code with your preferred own

The hosting platform automatically built and deployed the application.

Step 6: Testing the Live Application

Once deployment completed successfully, I tested:

Everything worked as expected.

**Challenges I Encountered

**.

This was a new experience so i wasnt able to navigate the process cleanly

Some key takeaways from this deployment process:

This serves as a Platform as a Service
This allows us to host app online

Essential Linux Commands: A Beginner's Guide

Oreofe Towobola — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:22:46 +0000

Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system widely used in servers, development environments, and even desktops. Mastering basic Linux commands is essential for anyone looking to navigate and manage Linux systems efficiently. This article introduces some of the most important Linux commands every user should know.

1. Navigating the File System

pwd (Print Working Directory): Shows the current directory path.

ls (List): Displays files and directories in the current location.

cd (Change Directory): Moves between directories. Example: cd /home/user.

2. File and Directory Management

touch filename: Creates an empty file named "filename".
_
mkdir dirname_: Creates a new directory named "dirname".

rm filename: Removes a file.

rm -r dirname: Removes a directory and its contents recursively.

cp source destination: Copies files or directories.

mv source destination: Moves or renames files or directories.

3. Viewing and Editing Files

cat filename: Displays the content of a file.

less filename: Views file content one page at a time.

head filename: Shows the first 10 lines of a file.

tail filename: Shows the last 10 lines of a file.

nano filename: Opens a simple text editor in the terminal.

4. System Information and Monitoring

top: Displays real-time system processes and resource usage.

df -h: Shows disk space usage in a human-readable format.

free -h: Displays memory usage.

uname -a: Provides detailed system information.

5. Permissions and Ownership

chmod: Changes file or directory permissions. Example: chmod 755 script.sh.

chown: Changes ownership of a file or directory.

6. Networking

ping hostname: Tests connectivity to a host.

ifconfig or ip addr: Displays network interfaces and IP addresses.

ssh user@host: Connects to a remote machine via SSH.

Tips for Learning Linux Commands

Use the man command to read manuals, e.g., man ls.

Practice regularly in a terminal or virtual machine.

Mastering these commands will give you a solid foundation to explore more advanced Linux topics and improve your productivity in any Linux environment.

My First Time Experience With Virtual Machines on Azure

Oreofe Towobola — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:13:25 +0000

INTRODUCTION

My recent journey into Dev-Ops lead me to Microsoft Azure Where I was introduced to the concepts of virtual machines. First and foremost.

WHAT IS A VIRTUAL MACHINE

A virtual machine is a software‑based computer that emulates a physical computer, running its own operating system and applications in an isolated environment on host hardware.

GETTING STARTED

I had to get acquainted with Azure first. carefully assessing subscription plans and how to get around generally. I was able to find help in a Microsoft exercise on how to create VMs.
To begin I needed a

Microsoft Azure Account.
Stable internet connection.
Microsoft material on how to create and operate virtual machines.

With that I was able to get the steps necessary to create one

STEPS TO CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE

STEP 1: Creating a resource group

In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Resource Groups and select Resource groups from the list of results.
On the Resource Groups page, select Create.
On the Create a Resource Group page, select your subscription and enter the name rg-alpha. Set the region to East US, choose Review + Create, and then choose Create.

STEP 2: Creating App Log Examiners security group

In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Azure Active Directory (or Entra ID) from the list of results.
On the Default Directory page, select Groups.
On the Groups page, choose New Group.

STEP 3: Creating a virtual machine

In the Azure Portal Search Bar, enter Virtual Machines and select Virtual Machines from the list of results.
On the Virtual Machines page, choose Create and select Azure Virtual Machine.
On the Basics page of the Create A Virtual Machine wizard, Adjust your settings according to your specifics and then choose Create.
Wait for the deployment to complete. Once deployment completes choose Go to resource.

STEP 4: CHANGING NETWORKING RULES

Editing remote Desktop Protocol (rdp)
Which allows input and network capabilities the virtual machine
so change the source to my ip address as it is the more secure option

Adding inbound port rules

STEP 5: Connection & Deployment

where the rdp file is downloaded and used to open the dialog box

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It opened my eyes to another side of computing I wasn't aware of, It was genuinely a lot at first and still is but I hope to get better

LESSONS LEARNED

- Resource Allocation Matters
I learned quickly that assigning too little RAM or CPU made the VM sluggish, while over‑allocating strained my host machine.

- Security Awareness
Running a VM made me realize how isolated environments can protect the host system.

- Cost and Cloud Considerations
On Azure, I discovered that forgetting to shut down a VM could rack up charges.

TAKE AWAY

Using virtual machines isn’t just about learning a new tool — it’s about developing habits around efficiency, safety, and resource management.

The Current Reality Of Those Wanting To Break Into Tech And Gain Stability

Oreofe Towobola — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:48:47 +0000

Breaking into the tech industry in 2026 remains a challenging endeavor for newcomers, characterized by a paradox of high demand for specialized skills alongside a saturated entry-level market.

The Core Realities of 2026

The "Experience" Premium:
The market is heavily skewed toward mid-level and senior talent who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision. Hiring managers are less willing to invest in long-term mentorship programs for juniors, leading to a "chicken-and-egg" scenario where entry-level roles require 2–3 years of experience.
The AI Skill Shift:
While generalist software engineering roles have fluctuated, demand for AI-integrated roles (AI engineering, data infrastructure, LLM optimization) has surged. This means "knowing how to code" is no longer enough; the value lies in knowing how to leverage AI tools to build, deploy, or manage AI-driven systems.
Market Bifurcation:
The job market is not uniform. While some reports suggest a surge in engineering openings, much of this is concentrated in highly specialized niches. Traditional "fresh out of bootcamp" or "new grad" entry-level roles remain highly competitive, with candidates often facing hundreds of applicants per opening.

Cloud Concepts: Understanding the Foundations of Modern Computing

Oreofe Towobola — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:43:02 +0000

What is the cloud: The cloud is a way of delivering computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet instead of running them on your own computer or local data center. Then we ask ourselves what are the core concepts of the cloud, what makes it up. These include:

** Key Cloud Concepts**

Computing: Virtual machines and processing power.

Storage: Places to store files, backups, and databases.

Networking: Connections that allow systems and users to communicate.

Security: Tools and policies that protect data and applications.

Scalability: The ability to increase or decrease resources as demand changes.

Pay-as-you-go: You pay only for the resources you use.

Cloud computing has transformed the way individuals and organizations access, manage, and deliver technology. Organizations that embrace cloud computing gain the agility, resilience, and competitive advantage needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world.