Introduction
Hey, readers, my name is Marcelo Salas but you call me Marshmellow Salad. I'm an undergraduate at Penn State University majoring in Applied Data Science. While I may seem like just your run of the mill tech nerd, I'm also really passionate about philosophy. Those might seem like two fully independent fields, but the overlap between technology and philosophy is vast. More specifically, I'm interested in the ethical considerations and the drives behind technological innovations.
Data Science is a field at the forefront of ethical considerations as the rapidly growing potential for harvesting vast amounts of user data becomes more and more daunting. That's why I want to enter the field and have a say on how companies levy this power of information against concerns over privacy.
What are SQL and NoSQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It's a programming language used to build databases. Databases that use SQL have a pretty universal structure that allows you to easily cross-reference data. SQL is like the organized file cabinet that lets anyone easily understand where things go and where to find them.
NoSQL on the other hand is a completely different ball park. If SQL is the file cabinet, then NoSQL is the cluttered mess of papers on your desk. Even though you might have the perfect system for understanding where everything is that works for you, none of your coworkers are going to be able to find what they need in the pile.
The distinction between the two types of databases means that if your going to be working solo on a project, you don't need to follow SQL's strict formatting and design the system that works for you. If you are working with other people, the universal format of SQL mean anyone can hop in and understand what's going on with your database.
While everything is an SQL database needs to be stored as tables, NoSQL gives you the option of using a document-based, key-value pairs, graph or wide-column data storage method. Lastly, SQL uses a concentrated node storage, which means to scale up an SQL database you have to use a more powerful machine. NoSQL on the other hand uses multiple node, which means you can simply add more servers to improve its performance.
Oldest comments (1)
Very informative write up!
I also have an interest in both data science and philosophy! It's great that you understand the implications that the use of data science can have for society.
Have you read "Weapons of Math Destruction" or "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism"? I've heard great things about both.