Switching from more recently created languages back to SQL can give some developers whiplash because SQL’s age makes its syntax a little quirky. IBM invented SQL in the ’70s, back when bellbottoms were cool (who are we kidding - they’ll always be cool).

It Should Have Automation for SQL Veterans Tools that take this approach often slow down SQL veterans when they want to code and make it harder for SQL newbies to learn how to query effectively.Ī good visual SQL query builder makes coding with SQL simpler and more efficient using automation and intuitive design. So, don’t look for a query builder that tries to replace the process of coding with raw SQL. Some query builders treat SQL as an obstacle to get over, not the fundamental tool it actually is.

The visual elements should help you build - or even automatically generate - the query, but the code should always be easy to access and edit. If you want to pull data from your relational database, you’ll need to use SQL to get it.įor this reason, your visual SQL query builder should not be treated as a replacement for SQL. SQL is the only language for querying relational databases. Three core characteristics make this possible: It Shouldn’t Replace SQL What to Look for in a Visual SQL Query BuilderĪ good visual SQL query builder should help SQL veterans do their jobs better and allow people who don’t know SQL to create queries. So, we thought we’d give you a rundown of what you should look for in a visual SQL query builder and list a few options to consider. This visual way of building queries attracts SQL veterans and newbies alike as a way to both speed up and simplify the process of querying data.īut not all visual SQL builders are made equally. Visual SQL query builders provide the ability to code SQL using visual elements. One technology that’s arisen to smooth these edges out is the visual SQL query builder, which aims to make SQL usable for a broader audience. But SQL’s age brings sharp edges, like awkward syntax and repetitive expressions, among many other quirks. At 50ish years old, SQL is an elder statesman among coding languages, perennially ranking as one of the most popular languages among developers.

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