Re: SQL programming fundamentals

Hi Peter,

My kneejerk reaction is that the relational theory knowledge is akin to needing to understand the internal combustion engine in order to drive to the store. Does it help? Sure (electric cars notwithstanding), especially if the car breaks down or to maximize the life of the vehicle. But society and economic forces have filled that need with tow companies and mechanics, freeing most of us up to concentrate on other (more important?) facets of life.

It'd be impossible for me to propose that notion here where we use a vendor-supplied ERP system that is barely 1NF. I've used ERPs that aren't even that.

Hmmmmm...I think I *am* in favor of that requirement if the SQL professional is designing software (especially ERP systems!) as a product to be sold. What a wonderful world it would be... :)

Interesting topic -- there's more here for me to drone on about (e.g. having devs sit through a theoretical math class w/o falling asleep), but I've got databases to make.

My $.02,
Rich

> How important do you believe it to be that any person who uses SQL in the
> context of their profession, should understand the relational theory and its
> logical underpinnings? Should such practitioners understand relational
> calculus (specifically the 'tuple relational calculus')?

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