Is it just me, or is Sqlite3 goofy?

[Mike Owens]

On 9/11/06, Steve Holden <steve at holdenweb.com> wrote:

> > Furthermore, I'm not responding to Python's representation of one
> > thing or another. I am responding to some of the ridiculous and unfair
> > criticisms directed at SQLite. Whatever Python did or didn't do, or
> > whatever PySQLite does or doesn't do, SQLite doesn't deserve to be
> > drug through the mud.
> >
> Which is precisely why I took pains to acknowledge that there were many
> purposes for which SQLite is entirely suitable.

Which was objective and diplomatic. Thanks.

> >>You shouldn't need to
> >>add check constraints to verify that the value stored in an integer
> >>column is actually an integer.
> >
> > You should if your using SQLite, and this is clearly documented:
> > http://www.sqlite.org/datatype3.html.
> >
> Right. In which case, why bother to define the types of the columns in
> your table declarations?

Actually there is some use for this, so long as the declared types
correspond to one of SQLite's storage classes -- INTEGER, REAL, TEXT,
BLOB, or NONE. When SQLite sees one of these as the declared type, it
will apply some "affinity" rules for updates/inserts which will
attempt to coerce the input value to that type if possible. So while
this does not give you true strict typing, it does provide you with
something helpful if you code your application with this in mind. As
already mentioned, you will need triggers or check constraints if you
need true strict typing.

> > Then what does calling it crappy and goofy suggest?
>
> That colloquial English expression is acceptable on this list.

And what about some of the other colloquial expressions I saw but didn't repeat?

> Strict affinity mode seems to represent a movement towards more rigorous
> type checking. So the designers of SQLIte accept that it wasn't perfect.
> So what? Please, don't take on so. It's only ones and zeroes.

This is an example of SQLite listening and responding to constructive
feedback. When I first started using SQLite, it didn't have an
autoincrement primary key. I made a case for it, asked nicely, and it
was done in three days. Most people will agree that this approach
tends to work better in most projects, as opposed to calling them
goofy and crappy, or its author a crackpot.

Mike

> regards
>   Steve
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