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Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

sqlfordevs.com

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Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#111

Post by Terretta »

FooBarWidget wrote: post #84
evilduck wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because I weigh the potential of being marketed to by email as being a negative value greater than the potential positive value of the information provided in exchange. 'Free (with the potential to spam you later)' is a world apart from 'Free, gratis, enjoy'.

The author loses much more than you. You can always unsubscribe, or — if you don't trust unsubscribe — filter away his emails. From the beginning you were always in full control. Giving your email grants the author no power over you whatsoever.

Nope, they can sell the list (or have it hacked), and then YOU are screwed.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#113

Post by pmontra »

copperx wrote: post #17
tuukkah wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

May I suggest providing a sample chapter before requiring an email address? EDIT: There are 10 sample pages (images) but on Firefox they are so small you might not notice them. The pages are in a row flexbox container which on Chrome overflows with a scrollbar but on Firefox scales all the way down to fit everything in view at once. Please add "min-width: 45%" in addition to the "width: 45%". Accessibility would also…

Don't we all have burner addresses? I mean, even Apple provides them.

Mailinator, but the free plans have no attachments.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#114

Post by qiller »

qup wrote: post #15
adamc wrote: post #11

I have a very negative reaction to sites that require an email to get something of unknown value. Automatic no.

That's an interesting take, given that the landing page demonstrates its value with some example pages, and the index of topics. I can skim the chapter titles and get a pretty good idea of exactly what value there is. I'm not sure what's holding you up.

Well, for example, intro doesn’t say which SQL flavor the author is targeting. As a MSSQL user I wouldn’t want to share my email in exchange for MySQL tricks

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#115

Post by cfeduke »

freebookthanks wrote: post #102

This is a great read, but for those who would rather not provide their email address until they've read the book, here's a download link: https://sqlfordevs.com/ebook-download?expires=1670195527&sig... Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20221202231259im_/https://sqlfor...

Thanks for this - I had provided my email address because I feel like I'd like the content of his mailing list regardless of the ebook offer, but the ebook never arrived via email (not even in spam).

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#116

Post by bachmeier »

freebookthanks wrote: post #102

This is a great read, but for those who would rather not provide their email address until they've read the book, here's a download link: https://sqlfordevs.com/ebook-download?expires=1670195527&sig... Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20221202231259im_/https://sqlfor...

Just FYI, I use Fastmail to create a masked email. If that email address starts flooding my inbox, I can kill it.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#117

Post by throwaway81523 »

Book looks good, shovelling the subscription at me was annoying and of course I used a throwaway address and unsubscribed immediately. It's actually probably a newsletter I wouldn't mind getting but the way it was done feels too spammy. I have Markus Winand's book SQL Performance Explained, actually paid for the download, and came away feeling cleaner. I do hear something from him through his mailing list once in a great while, and that is fine. I hope he comes out with another book someday.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#118

Post by llanowarelves »

varispeed wrote: post #62
nabakin wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YouTube asks you to watch ads, but we still consider it to be free. Many mobile games make you create an account (and provide your email) before you can play but we still consider them free because you don't have to give any money. That's the definition here: don't have to pay money = free. This ebook is free

You don't value your time = free Other people do value their time, therefore it's not free for them.

Yes "nothing is free" yet we still often call these things free. It definitely wasn't free for him to make it.

Average person on here views those hours as billable if they were to do it themselves, when they make decisions about what to do, or alternatives (opportunity cost).

Maybe he should charge them consulting rates for this PDF (and not take their -- correction: an -- email. The horror).

It's only because this is HN that it's even a discussion.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#119

Post by qup »

uoaei wrote: post #96
qup wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, of course it does. Fully agree. I don't understand the point you're making. I haven't offered my definition of value. I just said that you can clearly determine the value to yourself by reading the landing page, it has the relevant information required (besides actually reading all the content).

And what of values inherent in privacy concerns? It just seems like you're applying a very narrow view of what can be considered "value" here.

The "privacy violation" is not the value of the book, that's the cost to you.

We're not discussing the values inherent in privacy concerns, we're discussing the value of the book, and whether or not you can guess at its value before you give the guy your email.

You're talking about something else.

Re: Show HN: I wrote a free eBook about many lesser-known/secret database tricks

#120

Post by javajosh »

sneak wrote: post #106
tpetry wrote: post #2

In isolation because of Corona last year, I started to share many lesser-known database tricks I know on Twitter (@tobias_petry). Although I thought that only a few people would be interested in something like this, it became a matter of course over the months. Meanwhile, thousands follow me to read my database tips or news. Since every message in the constant social media stream vanishes after a few days, I had to d…

Decrease is misspelled on p48. Columns is misspelled on p33. You may wish to run a spellcheck to find the others I didn't. My disposable email I used to sign up has already been nullrouted. Rather than tit-for-tat collecting PII, why not just publish it to the whole web without the extra hoops? I'd have already sent you a PR in that case with more copy edits.

It's not about PII, it's a comms channel to db pros. And yes, a good email list like that is quite valuable, and he wouldn't get that just sharing the resource as you suggest.
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