I'm puzzled by how many people seem to have a huge "mental block" when it comes to SQL.

It is trivially easy to learn, (a weekend), and it is so incredibly powerful. To me, it is a skill like learning how to type properly - it will pay dividends for years to come...

Sql is fine as tweet sized selects. I developed my mental block deliberately after working for a company that had about a million lines of business logic implemented in thousand line sql stored procedures.

Now I put as many layers as possible between sql and myself.

Well, wait until you have to maintain a system where someone has "reinvented the SQL/database wheel" with a "this is gonna be so awesome" custom ORM, complete with totally re-invented referential integrity enforcement...

I'm confused as to how anyone can build data backed software of any consequence without sql.

now they just use pivot tables. Bloody pivot tables...

It seems to complex for a whole generation of developers.