[KLUG Members] easy DB

[j edward durrett]

>
> On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 at 12:13:15AM -0400, Andrew Thompson wrote:
>> I disagree. I find it a lot faster and easier to be able to drag and
>> drop a field from one table to one in a different table to join them,
>> instead of having to type tbl1 JOIN tbl2 ON... all the time, 
>> especially
>> when I've got two or three different joins in the same query. If you
>> already know exactly what SQL you need, sure, it's great, but I find 
>> the
>> graphical interface to be a real timesaver for designing complex
>> queries.
>
> I tend to agree with the first opinion, for a few reasons:
>
> 1. SQL is 100% portable, it is almost the same everywhere.  With these
> GUIs you have to learn a new GUI wherever you go.
>

Learning a new GUI is simple if you know what is going on in the 
background.  I have to agree, though, that SQL is portable.   I have 
run into problems here and there at times with DB's that don't support 
this and that function . . . but nothing I could not figure out.


> 2. Writing the query myself is faster for me.  I know EXACTLY what I
> want, I know EXACTLY what I am going to get.  Simple queries and
> complex queries are both easy to write once you have become well
> rehearsed with SQL.  If you look at the SQL some of the query writers
> generate they look like dog cr#p.  I get headaches trying to sort out
> the un-needed parens and extra stuff.
>

The problem is that it may be faster for you but other people might not 
quite be as proficient with SQL as you.  The aesthetic realm  has to be 
considered.

>
> Just my .02.  Not trying to start a holy war.
>
>
>

A discussion is a discussion.  Hopefully the rationalists in this world 
know that.