Critique of SQL: Examining the Flaws in the Dominant Database Query Language
By
charles_irl
Hot, fresh, and worth queueing round the block for.
Summary
The article critiques SQL as the dominant implementation of the relational model, arguing that while the relational model itself is excellent, SQL has fundamental flaws that create significant industry-wide problems. The author contends that SQL's issues go beyond minor inefficiencies and have dramatic downstream effects on data access and database design. The core argument is that replacing SQL or rethinking the boundaries between databases, query languages, and applications could unlock substantial value for the technology industry.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe relational model is great: But SQL is the only widely-used implementation of the relational model, and it is:
This isn't just a matter of some constant programmer overhead, like SQL queries taking 20% longer to write.
The fact that these issues exist in our dominant model for accessing data has dramatic downstream effects for the entire industry:
The core message that I want people to take away is that there is potentially a huge amount of value to be unlocked by replacing SQL, and more generally in rethinking where and how we draw the lines between databases, query languages and applications.
You might also wanna read
Rethinking Database Usage: When File-Based Storage Might Be Better Than Traditional Databases
The article challenges conventional wisdom about database usage, arguing that databases are essentially just files on disk and that for many
dbpro.app·1mo ago
Grafeo: High-Performance Graph Database Built in Rust with Multi-Language Support
Grafeo is a high-performance, embeddable graph database built in Rust that offers exceptional speed and efficiency. It claims to be the fast
grafeo.dev·2mo ago
vdb: A Header-Only C Library for Vector Database Operations
vdb is a lightweight, header-only C library for storing and searching high-dimensional vector embeddings. The library provides database mana
github.com·3mo ago
Litestream Adds Write Capabilities to Its Virtual File System
The article introduces Litestream Writable VFS, a new feature that adds write capabilities to Litestream's virtual file system. Previously,
fly.io·3mo ago
Turso: SQLite Rewritten in Rust for Modern Database Applications
The article discusses Turso, a database platform that uses SQLite rewritten in Rust, exploring its technical implementation, performance ben
kerkour.com·4mo ago
Ayder: A Durability-First Event Log System Verified for Crash Recovery
Ayder is a durability-first event log system designed to maintain data correctness under real-world failures including crashes, partitions,
github.com·4mo ago