When should I use C++ instead of SQL?

c++ mysql sql data-analysis
AudioDroid picture AudioDroid · Jul 6, 2011 · Viewed 7.7k times · Source

I am a C++ programmer who occasionally uses MySQL to work with databases, but my SQL knowledge is rather limited. However I am surely willing to change that.

At the moment I am trying to do analysis(!) on the data I have in my database solely with SQL queries. But I am about to give up, and instead import the data to C++ and do the analysis with C++ code.

I have discussed this with my colleagues, and they also push me to use C++, saying that SQL is not meant for complex analysis but mainly for importing (from the existing tables) and exporting (to new tables) data, and a little bit more such as merging data to - e.g. - joined tables.

Can somebody help me drawing a line? So I know when to switch to C++? Of course performance is also an issue.

What are indications that things get to complex in SQL? Or maybe I just take the wrong approach with designing the queries. Then where can I find tutorials, books, ... to take a better approach?

I hope this is not too vague. I am really a bit lost.

Answer

JNK picture JNK · Jul 6, 2011

SQL excels at analyzing large sets of relational data.

The place to draw the line is the scale of your analysis.

If you analyze individual records one at a time, do it in your application.

If you analyze large sets of records as a unit, SQL is definitely the best tool for that job.

Row-by-row analysis is not something SQL is designed or optimized for very well. But, if you want to know something about a million-row group of data, do it in the database.

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