Workbench — SQL Technical Interview Questions & Answers

Workbench

Workbench

  • Workbench is a practical MySQL task. Split it: (1) is the server running? (2) can this client connect (host, port 3306, user, password)? (3) USE the right database?
  • Install / Workbench / Docker / XAMPP all still end at: mysql -u user -p or a GUI connection with the same four fields. If Workbench says cannot connect, the server is down or the password/host is wrong — not ‘SQL is broken’.
  • Remote access: bind-address, user@'%', firewall, never open root to the world. Docker: port map 3306, MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD env.
  • Trap: installing only the client. Trap: two MySQL services fighting on 3306.
  • On the example next to this theory: Workbench: create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

Technical Interview Tip: Server up? Then connect with user@host. SELECT VERSION();

Code Examples for Workbench

Workbench — sample query

-- Workbench
CREATE TABLE demo (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
  label TEXT NOT NULL,
  qty INTEGER DEFAULT 0
);
INSERT INTO demo (id, label, qty) VALUES
  (1, 'alpha', 2),
  (2, 'beta', 5);
SELECT label, qty FROM demo WHERE qty >= 2 ORDER BY qty DESC;

Workbench: create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

How to Explain Workbench to an Interviewer

First checks when MySQL ‘doesn’t work’?

Is mysqld running? Correct user/password/port