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Building the Ultimate SQL Notion Database

You can find the original post on LinkedIn.

Building the Ultimate SQL Notion Database

Table of Contents

  1. Background: From Curiosity to Obsession
  2. Why a Notion Database?
  3. Key Features of My Setup
  4. Tools & Sources Covered
  5. Next Steps in My SQL Journey
  6. Final Thoughts

Background: From Curiosity to Obsession

Two years ago, during a database migration project at Accenture, I found myself facing SQL challenges far beyond what I'd seen before. What began as a search for "how to perform an outer join" spiraled into a deep fascination with SQL's capabilities.

That was the beginning of a never-ending journey.

Why a Notion Database?

I needed a system to organize, track, and review every tough SQL problem I encountered. That’s when I started building a fully customizable Notion database focused solely on SQL mastery.

It evolved into a structured, visual learning tool that helps me:

  • Track what I’ve solved vs. what’s pending
  • Measure my strengths and weaknesses
  • Categorize problems by concept, complexity, and platform

Notion SQL Database Overview

Key Features of My Setup

  • Tags by Topic: Queries are labeled with relevant concepts such as Joins, Window Functions, Recursive CTEs, Subqueries, etc.
  • Complexity Levels: Every question is marked as Easy, Medium, or Hard.
  • Expertise Tracker: I log whether I was able to solve the problem ("Could Solve") or not ("Couldn’t Solve").
  • Progress Indicator: A checkbox tracks which queries are done vs. those in progress.
  • Calendar Integration: A built-in calendar view lets me plan my weekly and monthly practice goals.
  • Company-Wise Filter: Separate views let me target Amazon-style, Facebook-style, or other company-specific patterns.

Notion SQL Tags and Tracking

Tools & Sources Covered

To ensure a comprehensive practice experience, I’ve pulled problems from multiple platforms:

  • LeetCode
  • DataLemur
  • Interview Query
  • YouTube

This blend gives me exposure to both classic and niche SQL problems.

Next Steps in My SQL Journey

Writing a correct query is only half the challenge. Performance is the true differentiator. Here’s what I’m focusing on now:

  • Mastering query execution plans
  • Partitioning and clustering data
  • Advanced indexing strategies
  • Studying the internals of query optimizers
  • Learning dimensional modeling (à la Kimball): facts, dimensions, and surrogate keys

Final Thoughts

This Notion database isn't just a personal project—it's become a reflection of my growth as a data professional.

If you’re building something similar or want to chat about data workflows, database design, or SQL tuning, let’s connect!