Re: What does this NULL mean?

From: Alfredo Novoa <alfredo_novoa_at_hotmail.com>
Date: 16 Dec 2005 05:07:29 -0800
Message-ID: <1134738449.104887.225560@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>

>A table is created (by the DBA).

>The table is loaded (by an application written by a programmer).

>The DBA comes along and does an
> ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN.

>The DBMS Dutifully adds the column, and equally dutifully fills it with
>NULLS.
This only would happen with a non relational DBMS.

>How do you make sense out of this dialogue?
>Who wrote the NULL?
>The application programmer via his program?
>The DBA via the ADD COLUMN command?
>The SW Engineer who built the DBMS, via the actions of the DBMS?
>The SQL standards committee?
>Ed Codd, when he wrote the paper that started all this?

If we eliminate nulls we would eliminate stupid dialogues like this.

Regards
Alfredo Received on Fri Dec 16 2005 - 07:07:29 CST