Re: Fun with SQL

Frohnhofer, James wrote:

>SELECT NAME FROM STUDENTS WHERE DAYS_TARDY > 3 AND DAYS_TARDY >
>LAST_TARDY_MSG_SENT
>
><send messages>
>
>UPDATE STUDENTS SET LAST_TARDY_MSG_SENT = DAYS_TARDY WHERE DAYS_TARDY > 3 AND
>DAYS_TARDY > LAST_TARDY_MSG_SENT
>
>
>Am I missing something?  That took me about 20 seconds.  (I can't touch type.)
>And the query couldn't be more easily understood.  
>
>Of course, I realize that that proves nothing.  I just assumed I had a
>database designed with my query in mind.  I realize that depending on the
>table structure you might end up w/ something pretty convoluted.  
>

Sure - I didn't specify any schema, I was flying high level. The next 
step would be to include a list of the tardy dates which I would think 
would be in a separate table from STUDENTS.

>But my point
>was that it isn't the syntax that's getting in the way, it's failure to
>understand the metaphor of the language.
>  
>
Well, what I read in your post was "SQL has been so remarkably 
successful with end users because ... its primary metaphor of rows, 
tables and keys is consistent, pervasive and easily grasped." I assumed 
you meant understanding the metaphor was easy, and while I agree that 
entry isn't too difficult -- it doesn't take much to get stumped by a 
query that seems easy to us humans.

-- 
Chris
http://clabs.org/blogki



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