On: The Next 50 Years of Databases (2015)

[Pxtl]

Exactly. I always say SQL servers are kernel of beautiful relational theory wrapped in about 4 feet of duck-tape and bubble gum.

The SQL server presents itself as a black box, saying "just say what you want and I'll figure out how to get it" and then completely fails to deliver on this and you have to open up the black box and find that its insides are dark and scary and full of jagged sharp ends.

[richardwhiuk → Pxtl]

All layers of abstraction are leaky when you care about performance sufficiently.

[crimsonalucard → richardwhiuk]

To an extent. Some layers are significantly more leaky than others. Rust vs. SQL for example.