CF

PostgreSQL Fundamentals

2h 5m 18s
English
Paid
Updated September 2026

PostgreSQL Fundamentals is a 28-lesson 2 hours 5 minutes self-paced course by Big Machine. This Big Machine course teaches core SQL and PostgreSQL by working with an unusually specific real dataset: telemetry from NASA's Cassini mission and its flybys of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

Course facts

Lessons
28
Duration
2 hours 5 minutes
Level
All levels
Language
English
Updated
2026-09-11
Instructor
Big Machine
Price
Premium

This Big Machine course teaches core SQL and PostgreSQL by working with an unusually specific real dataset: telemetry from NASA's Cassini mission and its flybys of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

What you'll practice

  • SQL fundamentals and how to apply them to real questions
  • Pulling meaningful insight out of a genuinely complex dataset
  • Designing and managing relational databases
  • PostgreSQL-specific features that go beyond standard SQL

Across 28 lessons, you're querying actual space-mission data in search of signals about Enceladus rather than a generic sample table — a format built for aspiring data scientists, database administrators, or anyone who wants their first serious SQL practice to feel less like a spreadsheet exercise.

Who teaches PostgreSQL Fundamentals? Big Machine

Big Machine thumbnail

Big Machine is the personal teaching platform of Rob Conery, a US developer best known for co-founding Tekpub (an early online dev-video platform later acquired by Pluralsight), authoring The Imposter's Handbook, and a long string of pragmatic developer books on PostgreSQL, Ruby on Rails, and the broader full-stack ecosystem.

His CourseFlix listing carries five Big Machine courses: The Imposter's Roadmap, The Imposter's Frontend Accelerator, PostgreSQL Fundamentals, Revisiting Rails, and AI for Developers With Deadlines. Material is paid and aimed at working developers — particularly those who came into software from non-traditional backgrounds and want to fill the foundational gaps without starting from scratch.

What lessons are included in PostgreSQL Fundamentals?

This is a demo lesson (10:00 remaining)

You can watch up to 10 minutes for free. Subscribe to unlock all 28 lessons in this course and access 10,000+ hours of premium content across all courses.

View Pricing
0:00
/
#1: Welcome!
All Course Lessons (28)
#Lesson TitleDurationAccess
1
Welcome! Demo
05:06
2
Installing PostgreSQL
04:31
3
Creating Our Workspace
03:36
4
Importing the Master Plan
04:13
5
Inspecting the Master Plan
06:13
6
Tangent: Working with Dates
02:29
7
Validating the Master Plan
05:57
8
Creating a Proper Import Script
02:05
9
Extraction: Summary
01:14
10
Flybys: Introduction
02:12
11
Concept: Normalization
05:02
12
Narrowing Our Search
04:41
13
Isolating the Enceladus Data
05:50
14
Creating the Working Set
06:11
15
Summary of Flyby Work
01:39
16
Introducing the INMS
04:01
17
Extracting and Loading the INMS Data
03:22
18
Transformation, Part 1
02:01
19
Concept: Constraints
06:57
20
Transformation, Part 2
07:44
21
Troubleshooting
11:03
22
INMS Loading Summary
01:29
23
Understanding What We're Looking For
05:19
24
Concept: Joins
07:28
25
Spreadsheet Export
05:18
26
Ethical Considerations
04:43
27
Ship It!
03:44
28
Summary, and Farewell!
01:10
Unlock unlimited learning

Get instant access to all 27 lessons in this course, plus thousands of other premium courses. One subscription, unlimited knowledge.

Learn more about subscription

What courses are similar to PostgreSQL Fundamentals?

More courses by Big Machine

Frequently asked questions

What prerequisites do I need before taking this course?
No specific prerequisites are mentioned for this course. However, having a basic understanding of databases and familiarity with SQL can be beneficial. The course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of SQL and PostgreSQL, making it accessible to beginners as well as those looking to deepen their database management skills.
What projects or exercises will I work on during the course?
The course involves practical exercises using the 'Cassini' mission dataset. You will engage in projects such as creating and managing relational databases, extracting and transforming data, and conducting analysis to search for signs of life beyond Earth. These projects provide hands-on experience in applying SQL and database management concepts.
Who is the target audience for this course?
This course is ideal for aspiring data scientists, database administrators, and anyone interested in data exploration. It caters to individuals who wish to learn SQL and database management using PostgreSQL in an engaging and informative way. Curiosity about data and space exploration will enhance the learning experience.
How does the depth of this course compare to similar courses?
The course offers fundamental coverage of SQL and PostgreSQL, focusing on core concepts such as data retrieval, database design, and PostgreSQL-specific features. It is structured to provide a solid foundation, making it suitable for beginners while also offering insights into real-world applications using the 'Cassini' mission dataset.
What specific PostgreSQL features will be covered in the course?
The course includes exploration of PostgreSQL-specific features that enhance database functionality and efficiency. These features are integrated into lessons that cover creating and managing relational databases, data transformation, and constraint application, providing practical skills in using PostgreSQL efficiently.
What topics are not covered in this course?
Advanced topics such as PostgreSQL performance tuning, advanced query optimization, and large-scale database management are not covered in this course. The focus is on foundational SQL concepts, basic database management, and fundamental PostgreSQL features suitable for beginners.
How much time should I expect to commit to completing this course?
The course consists of 28 lessons, each designed to progressively build your understanding of SQL and PostgreSQL. While the exact runtime is not specified, students should allocate sufficient time to engage with the lessons, complete the hands-on exercises, and apply the concepts to the 'Cassini' mission dataset.