Meet The Experts: Featuring Oracle ACE Laurent Schneider

Every week this blog will feature a question and answer session with a globally renowned Oracle expert. Each expert will share their experiences and suggestions with OCP blog readers. This week, our featured expert is Laurent Schneider from the beautiful country of Switzerland. Laurent is an expert Oracle DBA and an Oracle Certified Master (OCM). A multi-linguist and the Swiss champion in Chinese Chess, Laurent is a frequent speaker at Oracle conferences. Chances are that you might meet him at a global Oracle conference somewhere in the world.

OCP Advisor: Hello Laurent, on behalf of OCP blog readers we are delighted to have you as our featured Oracle Expert. Please tell us something about professional experience.

Laurent Schneider: I spent the last decade in database development and administration. One of my favorite 'poetry' is SQL (OCP Advisor's note: A language to most of us is indeed poetry to Laurent) . I have spent innumerable hours this year writing my book on SQL - Advanced Oracle SQL Programming: Expert Guide to Writing Complex Queries

OCP Advisor: Congratulations on being awarded the "Oracle ACE" credential.

Laurent Schneider: I have been regularly posting answers to several Oracle Technology Network (OTN) forums over the years. I was nominated by my peers. Also, being one of the first Oracle Certified Masters surely helped in getting the "Oracle ACE" recognition.

OCP Advisor: New Oracle technologies are being introduced every year. Which technology excites you the most?

Laurent Schneider: Again, SQL is the first thing I enjoy the most. I am looking forward to exploring the new features of Oracle 11g R2 beta release soon.

OCP Advisor: You are also an Oracle Certified Professional. What advice do you have for the certification candidates?

Laurent Schneider: I have written more than a dozen certification exams. I wrote my first certification exam for Oracle 8. I did follow the Oracle University courses. Everything asked in the exam is part of the Oracle University course ware. For SQL Certified Expert and RAC Certified Expert exams I read all available product documentation. In 2004, I appeared for the Oracle Certified Master (OCM) exam. The exam preparation was very intense. I spent hundreds of hours testing and crashing and recovering my test databases. I have also achieved several certification through the beta exams. One advice to certification candidates is to remember that beta exams are gigantic. You have to be a quick reader and be very comfortable answering multi-choice questions with more than one correct answer.

OCP Advisor: Your blog is one of the most popular Oracle blogs. Please tell our blog readers what topics you discuss on your blog?

Laurent Schneider: I love to write SQL code. Sometimes I explain what I write. Sometimes it is trivial :) (OCP Advisor's note: It may be 'trivial' to Laurent, but is often a new learning for his blog readers) I have learned a lot from the readers that posted comments on my blog !

OCP Advisor: Can you please let us know one habit that has contributed most to your professional success?

Laurent Schneider: Test everything. There is no substitute for hands-on experience. Read about the new features and try them. I have reported many bugs for several beta releases following this method.

OCP Advisor: Thanks Laurent for taking time out from your busy schedule and chatting with our blog readers. Wish you continued success and acclaim in the coming years.

Laurent Schneider: Wish OCP Blog readers great success in their certification exams!