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by BiteCode_dev 1302 days ago
> SQL is a little language for describing database operations

Yeah, SQL is not a little language anymore.

It started as one, but because a lot has been added to it and SQL flavors for Oracle or Postgres are anything but tiny. Windowing, nesting, json handling...

I think the author is kinda proving with this that a successful little language does not stay little, and hence little languages are not the future.

And don't get me started on DSL in general. Just lookup my username and "DSL" on hackernews for endless rambling.

3 comments

The reason why the author is using the term little language is because the term DSL doesn’t mean custom language any longer.

Yes, SQL is bigger than it used to be but it is still a domain specific language, which is what the article is actually about.

Maybe the term modular would be more appropriate than little? Every solution that has gained widespread dominance, take the shipping container, has been thanks to its flexibility, and modularity.
DSLs are great for job security in small organizations. They might as well be regarded as criminal.