Ask HN: If you could talk to a database in plain English, would you?

Re:Ask HN: If you could talk to a database in plain English,... by TylerE on Friday June 24, 2022 @03:02PM (#31867765)

No.

Trying to map english to formal logic is a fools errand.

From my experience, what keeps non-technical people from writing queries isn't SQL, it's stuff like joins.

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Re:Ask HN: If you could talk to a database in plain English,... by drittich on Friday June 24, 2022 @04:26PM (#31868870)

>Trying to map english to formal logic is a fools errand.

Perfect description of a developer's job.

"WANTED: One Fool to serve the court at the pleasure of the CEO. Compensation is one crust of bread and a flagon of ale per day."

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Re:Ask HN: If you could talk to a database in plain English,... by brochington on Friday June 24, 2022 @03:23PM (#31868087)

> Trying to map english to formal logic is a fools errand.

I don't disagree, but this would not be a 1-1 mapping, if that matters.

>From my experience, what keeps non-technical people from writing queries isn't SQL, it's stuff like joins.

I've met very few non-technical folks willing to brave learning any part of SQL. In my case joins would be an implementation detail, mostly handled by the product, but possibly with an escape hatch for technical folks.

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