If Not SQL, Then What?

If Not SQL, Then What?

In a recent blog post, I chided the NoSQL movement for naming itself after the absence of something. But not only is this naming approach for a broad market category rather silly, it?s also somewhat off-topic, since the story really isn?t simply about rejecting SQL. After all, the NoSQL movement essentially consists of a family of nonrelational database management systems. ?But I guess nonrelational just didn?t have the same buzziness as NoSQL.

Be that as it may, the NoSQL movement also eschews SQL itself?the venerable Structured Query Language, invented in the 1970s for relational databases and standardized in 1986. Yes, SQL is long in the tooth. It?s probably older than 90% of the people reading this post. And SQL is for relational databases. NoSQL databases are nonrelational, so we need to replace SQL. Fair enough. The question of the day, of course, is what to replace it with.

There is no shortage of contenders. Many of the NoSQL databases support their own query language, like CQL (Cassandra Query Language) for Cassandra, Pig for Hadoop, ECL (Enterprise Control Language) for HPCC, and GQL for the Google App Engine datastore. Graph databases also have their own query languages. Even though graph databases fall into the NoSQL bucket, they?re quite different from their document-centric brethren, and thus you would expect to query them differently. Graph-centric query languages include Neo4j Cypher.

But what everybody really wants is one query language to rule them all?or at least, one for the document-centric engines and one for the graph-centric alternatives. Filling this void are UnQL (pronounced uncle) and Gremlin, respectively. Couchbase, Microsoft, and SQLite are spearheading UnQL, while DEX, Infinigraph, and Neo4j are among the many names who support Gremlin. Left out in the cold as far as a standard query language, at least for now: name-value pair centric database engines like Cassandra, HBase, and Riak.

Clearly, the dust has yet to settle on the NoSQL query language marketplace. But the variety of contenders is only part of the problem. A larger issue, one the market has yet to tackle, is that most of these query language alternatives are intentionally similar to SQL. They all tend to have SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE statements, for example, and some of them even have JOINs. The reasoning behind this approach is to support people who know SQL. Theoretically, a SQL expert would be able to transition to a NoSQL query language without much trouble.

I challenge that conclusion. Throwing out the gauntlet here?how about we create one or more NoSQL query languages that look nothing at all like SQL, but are rather designed from the ground up to support the architectural context for NoSQL databases? In other words, what should a Cloud-centric NoSQL query language look like? Perhaps we haven?t even begun to explore the true meaning of NoSQL.

?

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
AI Girlfriend Craze

AI Girlfriend Craze Threatens Relationships

The surge in virtual AI girlfriends’ popularity is playing a role in the escalating issue of loneliness among young males, and this could have serious

AIOps Innovations

Senser is Changing AIOps

Senser, an AIOps platform based in Tel Aviv, has introduced its groundbreaking AI-powered observability solution to support developers and operations teams in promptly pinpointing the

Malyasian Networks

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Growth

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plan to implement a dual 5G network strategy. This move is designed to achieve a

Advanced Drones Race

Pentagon’s Bold Race for Advanced Drones

The Pentagon has recently unveiled its ambitious strategy to acquire thousands of sophisticated drones within the next two years. This decision comes in response to

Important Updates

You Need to See the New Microsoft Updates

Microsoft has recently announced a series of new features and updates across their applications, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. These new developments are centered

AI Girlfriend Craze

AI Girlfriend Craze Threatens Relationships

The surge in virtual AI girlfriends’ popularity is playing a role in the escalating issue of loneliness among young males, and this could have serious repercussions for America’s future. A

AIOps Innovations

Senser is Changing AIOps

Senser, an AIOps platform based in Tel Aviv, has introduced its groundbreaking AI-powered observability solution to support developers and operations teams in promptly pinpointing the root causes of service disruptions

Bebop Charging Stations

Check Out The New Bebob Battery Charging Stations

Bebob has introduced new 4- and 8-channel battery charging stations primarily aimed at rental companies, providing a convenient solution for clients with a large quantity of batteries. These wall-mountable and

Malyasian Networks

Malaysia’s Dual 5G Network Growth

On Wednesday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plan to implement a dual 5G network strategy. This move is designed to achieve a more equitable incorporation of both

Advanced Drones Race

Pentagon’s Bold Race for Advanced Drones

The Pentagon has recently unveiled its ambitious strategy to acquire thousands of sophisticated drones within the next two years. This decision comes in response to Russia’s rapid utilization of airborne

Important Updates

You Need to See the New Microsoft Updates

Microsoft has recently announced a series of new features and updates across their applications, including Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint. These new developments are centered around improving user experience, streamlining

Price Wars

Inside Hyundai and Kia’s Price Wars

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are cutting the prices on a number of their electric vehicles (EVs) in response to growing price competition within the South Korean market. Many

Solar Frenzy Surprises

Solar Subsidy in Germany Causes Frenzy

In a shocking turn of events, the German national KfW bank was forced to discontinue its home solar power subsidy program for charging electric vehicles (EVs) after just one day,

Electric Spare

Electric Cars Ditch Spare Tires for Efficiency

Ira Newlander from West Los Angeles is thinking about trading in his old Ford Explorer for a contemporary hybrid or electric vehicle. However, he has observed that the majority of

Solar Geoengineering Impacts

Unraveling Solar Geoengineering’s Hidden Impacts

As we continue to face the repercussions of climate change, scientists and experts seek innovative ways to mitigate its impacts. Solar geoengineering (SG), a technique involving the distribution of aerosols

Razer Discount

Unbelievable Razer Blade 17 Discount

On September 24, 2023, it was reported that Razer, a popular brand in the premium gaming laptop industry, is offering an exceptional deal on their Razer Blade 17 model. Typically

Innovation Ignition

New Fintech Innovation Ignites Change

The fintech sector continues to attract substantial interest, as demonstrated by a dedicated fintech stage at a recent event featuring panel discussions and informal conversations with industry professionals. The gathering,

Import Easing

Easing Import Rules for Big Tech

India has chosen to ease its proposed restrictions on imports of laptops, tablets, and other IT hardware, allowing manufacturers like Apple Inc., HP Inc., and Dell Technologies Inc. more time

Semiconductor Stock Plummet

Dramatic Downturn in Semiconductor Stocks Looms

Recent events show that the S&P Semiconductors Select Industry Index seems to be experiencing a downturn, which could result in a decline in semiconductor stocks. Known as a key indicator

Anthropic Investment

Amazon’s Bold Anthropic Investment

On Monday, Amazon announced its plan to invest up to $4 billion in the AI firm Anthropic, acquiring a minority stake in the process. This decision demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to

AI Experts Get Hired

Tech Industry Rehiring Wave: AI Experts Wanted

A few months ago, Big Tech companies were downsizing their workforce, but currently, many are considering rehiring some of these employees, especially in popular fields such as artificial intelligence. The

Lagos Migration

Middle-Class Migration: Undermining Democracy?

As the middle class in Lagos, Nigeria, increasingly migrates to private communities, a PhD scholar from a leading technology institute has been investigating the impact of this development on democratic

AI Software Development

ChatGPT is Now Making Video Games

Pietro Schirano’s foray into using ChatGPT, an AI tool for programming, has opened up new vistas in game and software development. As design lead at business finance firm Brex, Schirano

Llama Codebot

Developers! Here’s Your Chatbot

Meta Platforms has recently unveiled Code Llama, a free chatbot designed to aid developers in crafting coding scripts. This large language model (LLM), developed using Meta’s Llama 2 model, serves

Tech Layoffs

Unraveling the Tech Sector’s Historic Job Losses

Throughout 2023, the tech sector has experienced a record-breaking number of job losses, impacting tens of thousands of workers across various companies, including well-established corporations and emerging startups in areas

Chinese 5G Limitation

Germany Considers Limiting Chinese 5G Tech

A recent report has put forth the possibility that Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community may consider limiting the use of Chinese 5G technology by local network providers

Modern Warfare

The Barak Tank is Transforming Modern Warfare

The Barak tank is a groundbreaking addition to the Israeli Defense Forces’ arsenal, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities. This AI-powered military vehicle is expected to transform the way modern warfare

AI Cheating Growth

AI Plagiarism Challenges Shake Academic Integrity

As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT become increasingly prevalent among students and raise concerns about widespread cheating, prominent universities have halted their use of AI detection software, such as Turnitin’s