Re: [Q] Oracle and SQL

In article <R.5221m2$jr5_at_inet-nntp-gw-1.us.oracle.com> surman_at_dlsun338.us.oracle.com (Scott Urman) writes:
>Reposting article removed by rogue canceller.
>
>In article <1996Sep16.213258.21104_at_rossinc.com>, joelga_at_rossinc.com (Joel Garry) writes:
>|> In article <323655fd.150069594_at_news.concentric.net> jljoslin_at_cris.com (J L Joslin) writes:
>|> >On 10 Sep 1996 18:23:02 GMT, chwu_at_unlgrad1.unl.edu (McGyver) wrote:
>|> >
>|> >>What's the difference between Oracle and SQL?
>|> >>
>|> >>--
>|> >>
>|> >>
>|> >>
>|> >>
>|> >
>|> >
>|> >Oracle is a database engine (Relational DataBase Management System or
>|> >RDBMS). SQL is an ancronym for Structured Query Language. It is the
>|> >standard interface language for 99% of all relational databases.
>|> >Oracle without SQL is like a day without sunshine. Pretty useless.
>|> >
>|> >Jim Joslin
>|>
>|> On the contrary, I've seen entire (complicated) production applications written
>|> without SQL. You just need some substitute front end. However, I would
>|> recommend that any student contemplating learning a relational db, learn
>|> SQL and the related theory.
>
>Sure, but that substitute front end was creating the SQL statements and sending
>them to the databae for you. You were just insulated from actually writing them
>yourself (which may or may not be a good idea).

That is far different than saying Oracle is useless without SQL. It may be a good idea if you are writing database independent code. In that case SQL is a lowest common denominator solution (for example every vendor "does" outer joins differently), which would be even more difficult. All the useful stuff is done by extentions to SQL. Applications programmers _should_ be insulated from such, uh, features.

>
>|>
>|> --
>|> Joel Garry joelga_at_rossinc.com Compuserve 70661,1534
>|> These are my opinions, not necessarily those of Ross Systems, Inc. <> <>
>|> %DCL-W-SOFTONEDGEDONTPUSH, Software On Edge - Don't Push. \ V /
>|> panic: ifree: freeing free inodes... O
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Scott Urman Oracle Corporation surman_at_us.oracle.com
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Author of _Oracle PL/SQL Programming_ ISBN 0-07-882176-2
>Published by Oracle Press - http://www.osborne.com/oracle/index.htm
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>"The opinions expressed here are my own, and are not necessarily that of
> Oracle Corporation"
>------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- 
Joel Garry               joelga_at_rossinc.com               Compuserve 70661,1534
These are my opinions, not necessarily those of Ross Systems, Inc.   <> <>
%DCL-W-SOFTONEDGEDONTPUSH, Software On Edge - Don't Push.            \ V /
panic: ifree: freeing free inodes...                                   O