Welcome to the Braintree Analytics Code Challenge! This challenge is designed to assess your SQL skills, which are vital for the Analytics Data team. In this article, we’ll walk through the challenge details, how to set up your SQL database, and offer troubleshooting tips. Ready to dive in?

Getting Started with the Challenge

• All work should be done exclusively using SQL (e.g., MS SQL, Postgres, MySQL).
• You can ask for clarification on any questions, but avoid seeking technical help.
• Complete your work and submit it within 7 days.
• If you encounter broken or null values, provide explanations for your workarounds.

Setting Up Your SQL Database

To start the challenge, you’ll need to create a SQL database using the attached CSV files. This is similar to preparing your kitchen before cooking a meal. Just as a chef organizes ingredients and tools, you must set up your database structure to effectively fetch and manipulate data.

Here’s a sample approach to create a SQL database and import your CSV files:

CREATE TABLE continent_map (
    country_code VARCHAR(10),
    continent_code VARCHAR(10),
    continent_name VARCHAR(50)
);

LOAD DATA INFILE 'path/to/your/continent_map.csv'
INTO TABLE continent_map
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
LINES TERMINATED BY '\n'
IGNORE 1 ROWS;

Understanding the Challenge Questions

Now let’s break down the challenge questions using an analogy. Think of yourself as a detective solving a mystery about countries and their GDP data. Each question is like a clue that leads you to uncovering the whole story. You’ll filter, analyze, and summarize information to reveal insights. Below are some of the key questions you’ll need to solve:

• Data Integrity Cleanup: Identify and clean up duplicate entries. You’ll want to ensure that your evidence is clear and concise.
• Growth Ranking: List the top three countries with the highest year-over-year growth. Here, you’re measuring progress, akin to tracking how a company’s finances improve over time.
• GDP Share Report: Create a summary report showcasing the GDP per capita by regions. Think of this as showing off your findings on a pie chart—only in text format.

Troubleshooting Tips

As you navigate the SQL challenge, it’s natural to encounter some roadblocks. Here are some common troubleshooting ideas to consider if you hit a snag:

• Ensure your SQL syntax is correct. Even a misplaced comma can lead to errors.
• If you receive unexpected results, double-check your conditions and JOIN logic.
• For complex queries, break them down and test smaller sections.
• If your data contains null or broken entries, provide a comment explaining your workaround.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Finalizing Your Submission

To conclude your challenge, you should prepare a plain text file (named firstname_lastname_code_challenge.txt) containing:

• The original challenge questions.
• Your SQL queries and results for each question.
• Any notes or comments you think might help your reviewers understand your thought process.

Conclusion

Completing this SQL challenge is a brilliant opportunity to showcase your analytical skills. Embrace the problem-solving process and remember to document your journey. Best of luck!

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.