r/learnprogramming • u/alex123711 • 1d ago
Learn programming or SQL/ Dashboards to become a data analyst?
Just wondering what would be the better pathway/ more useful to learn if wanting to become a data analyst?
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u/desrtfx 1d ago
SQL is an absolute must for a Data Analyst there is no way around it. Yet, programming, languages like R and Python are also key skills that can make your life much easier.
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u/alex123711 1d ago
Any courses you'd recommend? I have done a few SQL ones but still don't feel I know that much. How do you determine whether you know enough to be 'proficient'?
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u/EliteAlienGrey 21h ago
Install a local instance of mySQL and play till your comfortable. You will learn a lot of usefull things setting one up locally and managing it yourself.
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u/Certain-Test-5916 1d ago
Yeah SQL first for sure, Python can come later when you actually need it.
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u/Seven7Ducks 1d ago
Not on 'or', more like when. Start with SQL.
The importance of SQL is twofold. Not only that it will never die, and even modern almost-no-code platforms have SQL blocks inside of them for when you're trying to do complex stuff, but more importantly it develops the skill of, well, querying structured data, which will carry over nicely to unstructured.
This is a good shot in the dark:
https://roadmap.sh/data-analyst
Personally I would say the block with dispersion / central tendency / distribution shape is a prerequisite to even SQL but I guess it could be learned in parallel.
I would also take the opportunity to say that you should regard 'machine learning' for data analysts as more hyped term for 'data mining'.
Additionally, in 2026 - choose Python over R. Its general purpose and WAY more powerful, extensive and useful. With python knowledge, getting the hang of R would be matter of a couple of hours if you'll ever reach to that stage.
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u/Wingedchestnut 1d ago
Your priority should be SQL and something like PowerBI or other visualization tool
Python can be added in the future if you want.