roadmap.sh: SQL

What it is

roadmap.sh is a community project that publishes free, interactive learning maps for developer roles and skills. The SQL roadmap lays out the language as a tree: basic syntax and data types, querying and filtering, joins, aggregate functions, subqueries, advanced functions, window functions and common table expressions, then data changes, constraints, transactions, indexes and query performance. Each node opens a short explanation with links to further reading, and you can mark nodes as done if you sign in.

The underlying repository is one of the most starred projects on GitHub, at about 368k stars as of 2026-09 (source: GitHub, developer-roadmap).

Is it worth your time?

Yes, as a map rather than a course. It is good for three things: seeing the whole of SQL on one page before you start, checking what you have skipped once you have learned the basics, and planning your revision before a new job or a technical round. It does not teach you by itself: the node descriptions are short, and you still need a course or tutorial with exercises and a real database to practise on.

Free vs paid

The roadmap and progress tracking are free. roadmap.sh also sells a separate "Master SQL" course with lessons, an in-browser editor and challenges; the price is shown on roadmap.sh/courses/sql when you check it. You do not need it to use the roadmap, and plenty of free courses and practice sites cover the same ground.

How to use it well

• Open it at the start and skim every node, so you know the shape of the subject.
• After each stage of your learning, tick what you can do without notes, not what you have read about.
• Use the unticked nodes to choose what to practise next.
• Pair it with the documentation of your own database, because the roadmap is dialect-neutral and syntax differs between PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQL Server.

Common questions

Does it pick a database for me? No. It covers standard SQL ideas that apply to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server and others.

How long does it take? It depends on your pace; the roadmap has no fixed schedule. Most beginners need several weeks of regular practice to work through the core nodes properly.

Is there a PostgreSQL-specific roadmap? Yes, roadmap.sh also has a PostgreSQL DBA roadmap for people who want to run and tune PostgreSQL rather than only query it.