SQL or Git and GitHub First: What Beginners Should Pick

-- A few basic SQL queries every beginner should know:

-- Get all rows from a table
SELECT * FROM orders;

-- Filter with WHERE
SELECT * FROM orders WHERE total > 500;

-- Sort
SELECT * FROM orders ORDER BY created_at DESC;

-- Aggregate
SELECT customer_id, SUM(total) AS revenue
FROM orders
GROUP BY customer_id
ORDER BY revenue DESC
LIMIT 10;

-- Join two tables
SELECT o.id, c.name, o.total
FROM orders o
JOIN customers c ON o.customer_id = c.id;

Week 1 Review:
□ Do I understand SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY?
□ Can I filter and sort a table?
□ Have I connected to a database tool?

Week 2 Review:
□ Do I understand GROUP BY and aggregate functions?
□ Can I summarize data by category?
□ Have I practiced on a real dataset?

Week 3 Review:
□ Do I understand JOINs?
□ Can I join 2-3 tables confidently?
□ Have I solved 10+ SQL problems?

Week 4 Review:
□ Have I built a mini analysis with SQL?
□ Is it documented in a notebook or blog?
□ Do I feel ready for data interviews?

# Basic Git commands every beginner should know:

# 1. Initialize a repo
git init

# 2. Check status
git status

# 3. Stage changes
git add .

# 4. Commit with a clear message
git commit -m "Add login page"

# 5. Push to GitHub
git push origin main

# 6. Pull latest changes
git pull

# 7. Create a branch
git checkout -b feature/new-header

Week 1 Review:
□ Can I initialize a repo and commit?
□ Can I push to GitHub?
□ Is my GitHub profile set up?

Week 2 Review:
□ Do I understand branching?
□ Can I create and merge a branch?
□ Have I resolved a small merge conflict?

Week 3 Review:
□ Do I understand Pull Requests?
□ Can I review someone else's code?
□ Have I opened 2+ PRs?

Week 4 Review:
□ Do I have 3 clean repos on GitHub?
□ Are my READMEs readable?
□ Do I feel ready for real team work?

Recommended order for beginners:

Week 1-2 — SQL fundamentals
  - SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY
  - GROUP BY, aggregate functions
  - JOINs across 2 tables

Week 3 — Git basics
  - git init, add, commit, status, log
  - Create a GitHub account
  - Push your first repo

Week 4+ — Keep using both
  - Every SQL project goes on GitHub
  - Every project gets a README

Result: SQL skills + Git habit together

Snapshot:

Skill        SQL                    Git & GitHub
Type         Query language         Tool + platform
First thing  Query data             Track code
Daily use    Yes (data roles)       Yes (all roles)
Career       Data, backend          Every tech role
Payoff       Insights & reporting   Portfolio + teamwork

SQL — 90-Day Roadmap:
Month 1 — Basics
  Week 1: SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY
  Week 2: GROUP BY, aggregate functions
  Week 3: JOINs
  Week 4: Subqueries + small analysis

Month 2 — Intermediate
  Week 5: Window functions (basics)
  Week 6: CTEs (common table expressions)
  Week 7: Query performance & indexes
  Week 8: Real-data mini project

Month 3 — Portfolio
  Week 9:  Capstone SQL analysis
  Week 10: Write a case study
  Week 11: Publish on GitHub
  Week 12: Interview prep

Milestones:
□ Comfortable with joins & window functions
□ 2-3 SQL projects on GitHub
□ Case study published

Git & GitHub — 90-Day Roadmap:
Month 1 — Basics
  Week 1: git init, add, commit, push
  Week 2: Branches & merges
  Week 3: GitHub profile + READMEs
  Week 4: First Pull Request

Month 2 — Real Workflow
  Week 5: Resolve merge conflicts
  Week 6: Issues + project boards
  Week 7: GitHub Actions basics
  Week 8: Fork a public repo

Month 3 — Portfolio
  Week 9:  Clean up 3 repos
  Week 10: Add READMEs + case studies
  Week 11: Add CI to one project
  Week 12: Share profile with recruiters

Milestones:
□ 3 clean GitHub repos
□ Comfortable with branches and PRs
□ One repo with CI

Daily Tracker:
Date: _________
☐ Morning routine completed
☐ SQL practice (1 hour)
☐ Git practice or project (1 hour)
☐ Read docs / tutorial (30 min)
☐ Exercise completed
☐ Reviewed progress
☐ Planned tomorrow

Today's Accomplishments:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Tomorrow's Priorities:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Weekly Tracker:
Week: _____

Goals for this week:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Daily Progress:
Mon: ☐☐☐
Tue: ☐☐☐
Wed: ☐☐☐
Thu: ☐☐☐
Fri: ☐☐☐
Sat: ☐☐☐
Sun: ☐☐☐

Weekly Wins:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Challenges & Solutions:
1. 
2. 

Next Week's Goals:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Monthly Tracker:
Month: _____

Monthly Goal:
_______________________________________________

Week 1 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 2 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 3 Progress: ☐☐☐
Week 4 Progress: ☐☐☐

Monthly Wins:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Skills Gained:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Projects Completed:
1. 
2. 
3. 

Commits This Month: _____
Repos Pushed: _____
Applications Sent: _____

Next Month's Goal:
_______________________________________________