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PRQL: a simple, powerful, pipelined SQL replacement (prql-lang.org)

430 points by NicoJuicy · 1346 days ago · 215 comments on HN

Article summary

PRQL is a modern language for transforming data, designed as a simple and powerful replacement for SQL. It features a pipelined syntax, database agnosticism, and support for embedded SQL. The language aims to improve upon SQL's conciseness and readability while maintaining compatibility with existing databases and tools. PRQL is open-source and has a growing community of contributors and users.

Main themes

  • PRQL vs SQL
  • Query Language Design
  • Database Compatibility
  • Open-Source Community
  • Performance Optimization
  • Alternative Query Languages

What commenters say

  • Some commenters believe that PRQL does not address the fundamental flaws in SQL and instead introduces new complexities.
  • Others argue that SQL's syntax is not the main issue, but rather its underlying relational algebra model.
  • A few commenters suggest that PRQL's design is an improvement over SQL, but its lack of maturity and testing makes it difficult to adopt for production use.
  • Some argue that PRQL's ability to embed SQL provides a necessary escape hatch for complex queries.
  • There is disagreement over whether PRQL's syntax is an improvement over SQL, with some finding it more readable and others preferring SQL's syntax.
  • A few commenters mention that other query languages, such as LINQ or KQL, may be more effective alternatives to SQL.
  • Some argue that the performance of transpiled SQL is a concern, while others believe that sensible optimizations can make it perform equally to or better than hand-written SQL.