[pointernil]

Maybe a little off topic:

- What's the (hi)story behind SQL putting the SELECT clause first? What are/were the benefits?

- What's the (hi)story behind SQL even differentiating between FROM and JOIN? Isn't it in the end: those are the tables, combine them in this way into one data set?

Any hints? pointers?

[plasticsyntax]

SQL uses a natural language syntax.

Regarding your first question - In English, most people would agree that "grab the beer from the fridge" is more natural than "from the fridge grab the beer". For what it's worth I've always considered this aspect of SQL maddening and I always start with SELECT * and work my way back later.

Regarding your second, this is probably because FROM means something different from JOIN. FROM indicates you are starting a block of JOINED tables. Technically if the syntax wasn't natural it might look like:

SELECT * FROM JOIN FOO ON NOTHING JOIN BAR ON FOO.ID = BAR.FooID

Given how annoyingly verbose the syntax is already I'm happy to go with what we were given.

[pointernil]

Aha! The natural English grammar pointer is a nice one... sure enough I now! remember the "natural language syntax" idea ;)

I'm happy too, no doubt... I guess, given how long it already "survived" SQL is quite "successful". Cheers