Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Databases Reporting with SQL Ordering, Limiting and Paging Results Limiting the Number of Results

Posted by A X
A X
12,842 Points

Why do different Databases use different keyword syntax?

I'm just curious why different Databases like MySQL and MS SQL Server use different syntax for keywords. Wouldn't it be simpler and easier to use a unified language syntax? I bet you it's frustrating to remember all the different Database nuances...Is there any advice more advanced users on Treehouse can give for remembering the differences between the DB's? Thanks!

4 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points

I don't even try to remember the different syntaxes. I rely on "cheat sheets" and online documentation as I flip from one database to another. As long as you know the concepts, looking up the syntax now and then is a minor issue.

As to why this is, standards are rarely established before technology exists. Most of the venerable databases have been around longer than the standards.

Markus Ylisiurunen
Markus Ylisiurunen
15,034 Points
Markus Ylisiurunen
Markus Ylisiurunen
15,034 Points

Hi abbymann!

It is just the way it is, there's nothing we can do about it. I find it myself hard to remember all the little nuances between most of the languages as well as between database syntaxes. I'd say the best advice anyone can give you is that Google is your friend! Your skills are not measured by how you can remember but how you can do the tasks. It's very common to look something like this up from Google. Heck I even sometimes need to check some simple JavaScript methods because I can't remember them by heart :)

You'll eventually start remembering those differences and they will become your second nature. Just stick with it!

NiKole Maxwell
NiKole Maxwell
11,083 Points
NiKole Maxwell
NiKole Maxwell
11,083 Points

Little nuances like this usually have to do with IP and who the intended market is. Times have changed quite a bit, everything wasn't always freely open for use and replication as much as it is today. Oracle jumped in the db arena with an offering to the government having off-stream naming conventions sort of makes sense. I actually find the W3 schools and MDN websites to be good tools for any questions on those little differences.

lucybeck
lucybeck
6,055 Points
lucybeck
lucybeck
6,055 Points

Different databases companies are in competition with each other. And, some languages are going to be preferred over others.