● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Desirable Features for a Modern Relational Query Language
Key points
- SQL's syntax is often considered archaic and clumsy.
- Better parsers are needed to provide clearer error messages.
- A modern language should embrace functional programming principles.
- The author's background includes MySQL, Db2, SQLite, SQL Server, Oracle, and Postgres.
Motivation for a New Query Language
The author, prompted by recent discussions around new query languages like Acadia, revisited and published an old draft on desired features for a modern relational query language. The core argument is that while SQL's underlying concepts are powerful, its implementations often suffer from clumsy and archaic aspects, contributing to the rise of NoSQL solutions.
Syntax Improvements
A key area for improvement is syntax. The author notes that SQL's PL/I-based syntax from the 1970s is outdated and suggests that a modern language would likely adopt aesthetics similar to C or Python, possibly with influences from ML or Prolog. This change is not just aesthetic; better syntax could lead to better parsers that provide more informative error messages, unlike some current implementations.
Embracing Functional Programming
The declarative nature of SQL, where users describe desired data rather than procedural loops, aligns closely with functional programming paradigms like lazy evaluation. However, the standard libraries of most SQL dialects are limited in this regard, often optimized for 1980s procedural programs. The author argues that a modern query language should be more accommodating to functional programming, moving away from the procedural stored procedures that contradict SQL's declarative core.
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Reporting from
A developer outlines desired features for a modern relational query language, suggesting improvements to SQL's syntax and better integration of functional programming paradigms. The discussion is prompted by new query languages like Acadia and aims to address perceived shortcomings in current SQL implementations.