Re: should one use ANSI join syntax when writing an Oracle application?

On 10/17/2006 08:53:56 AM, Ashton Anthony (Mr A) EDU wrote:
> Mladen,
> 
> Don't be resistant to change

Why not, if the change is actually for the worse?
I find many queries like:

select a,b,c from A left outer join B left outer join C left outer join D.

That, my friend, is completely illogical and ambiguous. Outer join should be 
used sparingly, as an exception to the rule. Outer join means that you want to
pair up values from two tables, but you don't really have all the matching 
values.
Using that lightheartedly is a sign of a bad design. 

> - Appreciate the differences and argue for/against without using emotive 
> language. Many 
> people (especially younger developers) will find the ANSI syntax easier to 
> read and understand.

There is tedious but necessary old discipline called "logic". Younger 
developers usually
have title that reads "junior programmer/developer". My title reads "senior 
DBA". It's them
who will adjust to me, or their application will not run on my database. As 
simple as that,
real democracy in action. It's called "war on ANSI joins". Current level of 
threat is orange,
with yellow polka-dots.
Unless "younger developers" adopt that tedious thing called logic and explain 
to me why they
would not use more clear and self-explanatory Oracle syntax, which happens to 
be much easier 
to optimize and maintain, they  will not be in business long enough to become 
senior or 
ancient developers. For junior developers, there are few rules:

1) Thou shalt not have other DBA's before me.
2) Remember the day of thy DBA and keep it holy. In particular, thou shalt not 
call
   while thy DBA is watching the daily show with Jon Stewart or Real Time with 
Bill Maher.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of a senior DBA in vain.
4) Thou shalt not make woodoo dolls or other effigies of a senior DBA. 

Not every change is good and nobody has yet shown me any advantages of the ANSI 
syntax
over the traditional one. Arguments like the ones used by Dr. Phil or Oprah are 
unlikely
to convince me to the contrary. My favorite TV character is the soup nazi, not 
Oprah. No
soup for you! Neeeext!
-- 
Mladen Gogala
http://www.mladen-gogala.com

--
http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l

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