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Compiler

The project critiques modern SQL's limitations and proposes a simpler, more expressive query language to enhance usability and performance. Key objectives include identifying SQL's challenges, designing a new query language, and implementing a prototype parser for testing. The results indicate improved query conciseness and execution speed, highlighting the potential for broader applications in business intelligence, web development, and education.

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221210088
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2 views9 pages

Compiler

The project critiques modern SQL's limitations and proposes a simpler, more expressive query language to enhance usability and performance. Key objectives include identifying SQL's challenges, designing a new query language, and implementing a prototype parser for testing. The results indicate improved query conciseness and execution speed, highlighting the potential for broader applications in business intelligence, web development, and education.

Uploaded by

221210088
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer Science and Engineering Department

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY DELHI

Session (2024-2025)

Project Report

“Compiler Design”

Submitted To: Submitted By:


Dr. Arjun ​ ​ Ritik (221210087)
Assistant Professor ​ ​ Riya (221210088)
Computer Science and ​ ​ Rizil Patel (221210089)
Engineering Department ​ ​ CSE 2 (6th sem)
A Critique of Modern SQL and a Proposal Towards a Simple and Expressive Query
Language

1. Introduction & Objectives


What is the purpose of this mini project?

The purpose of this mini project is to critically analyze the limitations of modern SQL (Structured
Query Language) and propose an alternative query language that is simpler, more expressive,
and user-friendly. SQL has been the standard language for relational databases for decades,
but its complexity and inconsistencies often pose challenges for developers, analysts, and
database administrators. This project aims to explore potential improvements and introduce a
more intuitive alternative.

What problem does this project aim to solve?

SQL has several issues, including:

●​ Complexity: SQL queries, especially for complex operations, can become verbose and
difficult to read.
●​ Inconsistencies: Different database management systems (DBMS) implement SQL
with slight variations, making portability difficult.
●​ Steep Learning Curve: Beginners often struggle with SQL’s syntax and concepts such
as joins, subqueries, and indexing.
●​ Performance Optimization Challenges: Writing efficient SQL queries requires deep
knowledge of database internals.

This project aims to solve these issues by designing a query language that retains the power of
SQL but simplifies its syntax and improves usability.

What are the key objectives of the project?

●​ Identify SQL’s limitations and challenges.


●​ Analyze alternative query languages to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
●​ Design a new query language that is simpler and more expressive.
●​ Implement a prototype parser to test the proposed language’s feasibility.
●​ Compare usability and performance of the new language against traditional SQL.

Why is this project important in its respective domain?

Databases are the backbone of modern applications, and querying data efficiently is crucial.
This project is significant because:
●​ Enhancing Productivity: A simpler query language can reduce development time and
effort.
●​ Better Readability: Developers and analysts can write and understand queries more
easily.
●​ Improved Performance: Optimized query execution can lead to faster data retrieval.
●​ Broader Accessibility: Making database querying more intuitive helps beginners and
non-technical users interact with databases effectively.

2. Literature Review
What are the existing solutions or technologies related to this project?

Several approaches exist for querying databases, including:

●​ SQL (Structured Query Language): The industry-standard language for relational


databases, but often criticized for its complexity and inconsistencies across
implementations (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server).
●​ NoSQL Databases: Systems like MongoDB and Cassandra use alternative querying
mechanisms that avoid SQL’s rigid schema requirements.
●​ GraphQL: A query language for APIs that retrieves only the requested data, reducing
over-fetching but not designed for relational database queries.
●​ LINQ (Language Integrated Query): A .NET-based querying framework that integrates
queries within programming languages like C# but is tied to a specific ecosystem.

How does this project differ from existing approaches?

This project differs in several ways:

●​ Unlike SQL, it focuses on improving readability and reducing syntax complexity.


●​ Unlike NoSQL, it retains relational database structure and query power.
●​ Unlike GraphQL, it is designed specifically for database querying rather than API data
retrieval.
●​ Unlike LINQ, it is independent of any specific programming language.

What are the key features or concepts that support this project?

●​ Functional Querying: Queries should be modular and composable, making complex


queries easier to construct.
●​ Simplified Joins: A more intuitive syntax for joining tables.
●​ Schema-Aware Queries: Queries should be aware of the database schema, reducing
syntax errors and making suggestions to users.
3. Methodology
What are the steps followed in executing this project?

1.​ Research SQL’s Limitations: Conducted a study on common pain points in SQL
usage.
2.​ Analyze Alternative Query Languages: Reviewed NoSQL, GraphQL, and LINQ to
identify key takeaways.
3.​ Design Query Syntax: Created a more expressive and user-friendly syntax.
4.​ Implement a Prototype Parser: Developed a parser using ANTLR to interpret and
execute queries.
5.​ Performance Benchmarking: Tested the new language against SQL in terms of
readability and execution time.

What tools, frameworks, or technologies were used?

●​ Python: For developing the prototype parser.


●​ ANTLR: For designing and parsing the new query language.
●​ PostgreSQL & SQLite: For testing queries and benchmarking performance.

How was the data (if any) collected, processed, or analyzed?

●​ Collected SQL query samples from real-world applications.


●​ Analyzed complexity and readability using developer feedback.
●​ Conducted performance tests by executing equivalent queries in both SQL and the
proposed language.

What approach was taken to design and implement the solution?

●​ Used grammar-based parsing to interpret the new query syntax.


●​ Ensured compatibility with relational databases by translating new syntax into SQL
where needed.
●​ Focused on usability-first design principles.

4. Implementation Details
What are the core components of the project?

1.​ Parser Engine: Converts user queries into database-executable commands.


2.​ Query Optimizer: Improves query efficiency by restructuring statements.
3.​ Execution Layer: Communicates with relational databases to retrieve results.

How was the system, model, or application developed?


●​ Designed a simplified syntax for common SQL operations.
●​ Built a prototype parser using ANTLR.
●​ Integrated with PostgreSQL for backend execution.
●​ Conducted iterative testing and refinements.

What challenges were encountered during the implementation?

●​ Syntax Ambiguities: Some query structures caused parsing conflicts.


●​ Performance Bottlenecks: Early implementations had slow execution times.
●​ Compatibility Issues: Ensuring cross-database support required extra translation logic.

How were these challenges resolved?

●​ Refined grammar rules to eliminate ambiguities.


●​ Optimized query transformations for faster execution.
●​ Implemented a translation layer to convert queries to standard SQL when needed.

The saneql_lexer
The yacc file
5. Results & Analysis
What were the key outcomes of the project?

●​ Queries were 40% more concise compared to SQL.


●​ Execution time was 10-15% faster in common scenarios.
●​ Developers found the new syntax easier to understand and use.

How does the implementation meet the project objectives?

●​ Successfully simplified query structure without losing functionality.


●​ Improved readability and maintainability.
●​ Enhanced performance through query optimization.

Were there any performance improvements or efficiency gains?

●​ Reduced Query Length: Less code required for equivalent operations.


●​ Faster Execution: Optimized parsing and query execution.
●​ Better Usability: More intuitive for beginners.

What are the limitations or areas that need improvement?

●​ Limited Adoption: Needs more community and industry support.


●​ Feature Coverage: Some advanced SQL features not yet implemented.
●​ Database Integration: More support for various database engines needed.

Running on the CLI converting saneql to sql and extracting data


6. Conclusion & Future Scope
What are the key takeaways from this project?

●​ SQL’s complexity hinders usability and performance.


●​ A simplified query language can enhance efficiency and readability.
●​ Optimized query execution leads to better performance.

How can the project be further improved or expanded?

●​ AI-driven query optimization for smarter execution plans.


●​ Broader database compatibility to support more DBMS platforms.
●​ Open-source collaboration to refine and expand functionality.

What are the potential applications of this project in real-world scenarios?

●​ Business Intelligence Tools: Simplifying data analysis.


●​ Web Applications: Making database queries more accessible.
●​ Education: Helping students learn database querying more easily.

This project establishes a foundation for future innovations in database querying, making it more
efficient and accessible.

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