Comments on: The computer science turing test

By: Ciaran

Ciaran — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:19:03 +0000

I have to admit I still find it easier to parse the old-fashioned (some might say Oracle-style) of joins, rather than the explicit syntax.

e.g. SELECT * FROM table1 a,table2 b WHERE a.field=b.field

But I appreciate that writing that kind of thing is, these days, on a par with farting at the in-laws dinner table.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:15:51 +0000

I think ORM tools may have corrupted me forever

By: Luke Maciak

Luke Maciak — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:02:08 +0000

I was like that too. And then I ended up working on a database-centric application which required me to write so many SQL JOIN statements that at one point the built in mental parser just clicked in.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:43:38 +0000

Wow, it has been a long, long time since I’ve had to write any prolog! I’m glad to say that I can only summon vaguely positive memories.

By: Owen

Owen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:09:17 +0000

You obviously need to do more hardcore logic programming . If you get to the point where you read your own prolog after a week, plain old boring propositional SQL seems like a breeze.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:58:27 +0000

Yeah, I understand perfectly how they work and what they do, I just don’t have a built-in parser like I do for most other things. Consider it a sort of blind spot

By: Devdas Bhagat

Devdas Bhagat — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:20:12 +0000

SQL JOINs are just a way of combining two sets.

I suggest starting off with understanding the natural join, and then follow up with the rest.

I also recommend reading up on CJ Date, and EF Codd’s works.