Developer moving from SQL Server to Oracle

Question

We are bringing a new project in house and whereas previously all our work was on SQL Server the new product uses an oracle back end.

Can anyone advise any crib sheets or such like that gives an SQL Server person like me a rundown of what the major differences are - Would like to be able to get up and running as soon as possible.

Answer 1

@hamishcmcn

Your assertion that '' == Null is simply not true. In the relational world Null should only ever be read to mean "I don't know". The only result you will get from Oracle (and most other decent databases) when you compare a value to Null is 'False'.

Off the top of my head the major differences between SQL Server and Oracle are:

• Learn to love transactions, they are your friend - auto commit is not.
• Read consistency and the lack of blocking reads
• SQL Server Database == Oracle Schema
• PL/SQL is a lot more feature rich than T-SQL
• Learn the difference between an instance and a database in Oracle
• You can have more than one Oracle instance on a server
• No pointy clicky wizards (unless you really, really want them)

Everyone else, please help me out and add more.