Fabien, > Moreover, there are many SQL flavors around, so whatever the detailed > syntax I learn them, it won't be the one they will have to face if the > database they use is different. So why bother?
There are so many Java flavors around, why bother teaching the students syntax at all? The flavor they work with in your class will probably be different from what they have on the job. See my point? One of the primary reasons for the existence of international standards is education. If you stick to Beginning & Intermediate SQL92, you can give your students a set of SQL syntax that they can use on 80% of the RDBMSes in service, including Postgres, HSQLDB, SQLite, Oracle, and SQL Server. This is serving them well. Were I teaching a class with a SQL component, using PostgreSQL as a tool, I would be very careful to avoid letting my students use an extensions to SQL; no "!=", no "SELECT DISTINCT ON" and no alias references in the GROUP BY clause. Allowing your students to use a non-standard operator that will fail them the instant they leave the classroom is serving them badly indeed. -- Josh Berkus Aglio Database Solutions San Francisco ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
