About Rudy Rodarte
Database professional from Austin, TX
Data Platform Career History
Starting with Microsoft SQL Server and the .NET Stack
I started out of college working with MySQL, Excel, and flat files. In the early 2000’s had an entire operation running from one of my colleague’s desktops using MySQL and a classic ASP website. After a few months, IT told us to move our process from under the desk and onto a proper server. We were given a small SQL Server, a custom C# framework, and the rest is history.
After a few months, I was working with SQL Server Reporting Services and SQL Server Integration Services. Gone were the days of manually importing CSV files. The process was scheduled and automated, along with reporting. I’ve increased my skills as I’ve moved from job to job, including security, backup and recovery, High Availability / Disaster Recovery and much more. I’ve also added Power BI reporting to the toolbox and picked up a few Microsoft Certifications along the way.
Moving towards Open Source / Non Relational Databases
Plans change. Ask anyone who has worked in technology for more than a year. When I started, the industry was using Visual Studio 6.0 and Java 2. At the time, we were using Microsoft MFC, Javax Swing, Struts. Now, all of these technologies have been superseded by modern frameworks.
The same thing goes for databases. Though SQL Server is still popular, other data platforms are gaining market and mindshare. At my current job, I have the chance to work with MongoDB and PostgreSQL about 20% of the time. And I am working hard to bring my MongoDB and PostgreSQL knowledge up to my SQL Server level. Sure, you can’t cram nearly 20 years of experience in a few months. But that won’t stop me from trying!
Today and into the Future
Gone are the days when a data platform professional can stick to one and only database. Today, I am switching between PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, and SQL Server. Though each platform has it’s own nuances, the heart of the database is essentially the same.
When it is time to build a server, I’m now using Ansible playbooks for the software and Terraform for the instances. Most of the time, I am working in Oracle Cloud and AWS.
And no one in 2025 and beyond is getting by without AI. From AI agents, embedding models, and vector databases. I’ve had to expand my toolbox beyond the database and into a very exciting space.