----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Sprenkle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <sqlite-users@sqlite.org> Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 2:08 PM Subject: Re: [sqlite] Proposed 3.3.0 changes. Was: 5/2==2
> I think it's a bit misleading to call the library "SQL-Lite: if you're > going to redesign > and not be like SQL. What do you think about creating a separate > project for a fast > light database engine that's not "SQL Like"? strict typing is not, to most people at least, a core feature of sql - the syntax and semantics of operations (ie selects+joins etc) are. as drh stated, strict typing was originally a performance enhancement/implementation complexity reduction measure. the difference between what sql prescribes and what sql does will be apparent to developers at two points: a) schema definition and b) operation semantics expectation formulation. imo, the former is a non-issue, since pretty much each rdbms will have significant differences there; sqlite would indeed probably be one of the easiest one to adapt to in this regard due to the short list of possible types. the latter issue is the one that needs to be discussed and indeed the one drh is trying to get at with his question. is asking developers to change their mindset when working with sqlite and expect, say, a number with a fraction back from a division of two integers too much? this question should also be posed to the authors of language-specific bindings, since this could be a hassle in strictly typed languages. regardless, sqlite's fudging of type handling does not make it not look like sql, although it's pretty obvious it's noncompliant in those respects. this is not a bad thing - following braindead standards faithfully is a braindead design. (disclaimer: assuming that the deviation is less braindead). besides, if you want to get into linguistic interpretations, 'sqlite' could be interpreted both as 'lightweight sql rdbms' and as 'rdbms conforming to a reduced, lightweight subset of sql'. imo, provided that there is a prominenent 'You are standing on a chair and wearing a noose around your neck!' notice given to folks, i don't see this as a problem. -p
