So if you want a lucrative programming career (even the lowest paid SQL developers make upwards of $60,000 a year), it’s imperative that you learn a database programming language like SQL.

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Developers often dispute the merits of SQL as a legitimate programming language, but this misses the point. SQL is a powerful 4GL for accessing data.

Click "MySQL," then click "Query Browser" to open the MySQL programming application. Log in to the MySQL server using your username and password.

Maybe it's not the sexiest programming language, but SQL continues to be important--at least according to one measurement.

Microsoft-centric technologies are featured prominently in a new examination of the top in-demand programming skills published by careers site Dice.com.