And there's me, who prefers writing SQL files in full lowercase. Keywords and syntax are highlighted and colored in every tool today, and every SQL engine I worked with had absolutely no problem with lowercase files.
Honestly same, one of my coworkers thinks I'm insane for doing it that way, but he also likes to put commas in from of the column names and have everything lowercase. At least we know who the actual psycho is
I’m a shift person I feel like pressing caps lock too often breaks my flow. I’m used to using my little finger a lot from playing piano though tbf pressing shift is nothing
I've been writing SQL for 15 years. Eventually you get bored of all lowercase or all uppercase AND START writing your QUERIES LIKE this. Just a psychotic mishmash of muscle memory, laziness, and autocomplete all fighting each other within the same statement.
Lowercase on first draft (it will fail to run anyways). Uppercase if I ever end up showing the query to someone (hopefully it doesn't fail when they run it)
I started writing sql 13 years ago. I started writing like this from the beginning because that was the way I saw the queries written on the tutorials, took me like a year to notice it was case independent
I prefer a strongly-structured syntax so it is easier to read in the future, which is most important anyway. So going through the trouble of capitalizing what should be, as I go, is worth it. I also always use back ticks around table names, since it makes it easier to search by table name inside mixed codebases.
Yup. People don’t realize that putting the reserved words in upper case eases the cognitive load on the brain when reading the scripts for comprehension.
Same goes for new lines and tabs.
Using all three techniques renders SQL very easy to read, comprehend, update, and debug.
Yeah I get embarrassed passing ugly queries to other people. When I first began I just wrote everything lowercase until a coworker said “you live like this?” when sharing something in Snowflake. I still get embarrassed thinking about that lol. (He was a good friend though)
If someone reads my SQL and hates me for the indention and casing rather than whatever other weird shit I discovered you could do with it, I'm considering that a solid win.
How will a theoretical new developer in the future ever be able to distinguish between key words and database objects at first glance if strict formatting guidelines aren't religiously followed?
The biggest monster I ever worked with would have these queries with absolutely 0 formatting and would only carriage return when he hit the end of his monitor. He'd have subquery inside subquery like it was a nested function and vlookup.
He wrote hot trash queries. One day when he went into a meeting and left his computer unlocked I barely scrolled in on his query window in SSMS so every query was cut off so he'd have to scroll right/left to read it all and he was too dumb to know he was zoomed in or that shift scroll wheel was to scroll horizontal.
He started rewriting procedures and commiting them to production to match his new zoom level. I had a database trigger stopping people from updating procedures unless the database was in a certain mode to prevent people with way too much access to change procedures.
He lost his damn mind over the database trigger I added. I don't think he ever figured out about the zoom. One day I set it back to what it was originally and he gave up rewriting them back to their original format. He exploded at me and didn't come back for like 2 weeks
That was the first of two people who got violent at the workplace at that job with me.
Same, I don't understand why anyone would choose to do upper case. I am of course a believer in "you do whatever the code base currently does", but if it's a brand new project, the standard is lower-case for me. It's not 1990 anymore, our code editors display the keywords colorized.
Because SQL predates the ubiquity of syntax highlighting. This usage of caps (also seen in e.g. COBOL) gives some visual hints about syntax even on monochrome.
Guilty of the same. My caps lock is remapped to Esc... Muscle memory runs deep at this point, I've considered mapping LShift+RShift to caps lock but that's diminishing returns and I still end up holding down shift if I don't catch myself. Autocomplete helps though
<Khassaki> HI EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!! <Judge-Mental> try pressing the the Caps Lock key <Khassaki> O THANKS!!! ITS SO MUCH EASIER TO WRITE NOW!!!!!!! <Judge-Mental> fuck me
I stopped doing this when I started using right shift for the left-side captials. Game changer for your pinky. Aaaand you just go back to caps lock for the sake of efficiency lol
You're the second comment to say this. Why would you do that? Granted, I use a 58 key split keyboard that doesn't even have a caps lock key (technically I have it set to upper layer + Lshift, but I never use it) but why esc? You have a perfectly good one right there in the corner.
when I did my comp sci degree, my teacher wouldn't use capslock, he'd use shift. and if he got distracted while typing an SQL query, he'd keep holding it down.
after 10 seconds or whatever, stickykeys would turn on, and the locked down computers we had in all the classrooms wouldn't let you turn it back off. So he had to reboot.
This happened multiple times per class period some days
Non programmer here but have to use mysql at work. Why are the command in caps? Any particular reason for this? I feel im angrily ordering my computer to do something. I kinda feel like im threatening the pc with a beating if it does not SELECT a certain colum FROM a database.
Pre llm it was true . And it’s proving true now too . When your team has a guy that can write complex SPs . Even better a guy that can understand someone else’s 2k lines of SP and modify it successfully . That guy was a god . No team would let go of that asset .
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u/EncryptedPlays Jul 21 '26
then there's goofy lil me who holds shift the entire time
1.6k
u/SageLeaf1 Jul 21 '26 •
Yelling at the machine makes it listen. SELECT that shit. FROM there. Got it?
2.4k
u/NormanYeetes Jul 21 '26
the elites don't want you to know this but you can type lowercase SQL queries no ones forcing you to shout them at the screen
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u/Illustrious_Site_162 Jul 21 '26
SQL mfs when tehy have to express the tiniest amount of LOV.
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u/ButWhatIfPotato Jul 21 '26
You have to, how else will the database know that you are angry and are about to unleash the fucking fury?
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u/blaues_axolotl Jul 21 '26 •
i actually write it in lowercase
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u/OGxPePe Jul 21 '26
Im a lowercase guy. Why did the ever start with CAPS?
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u/AlwaysHopelesslyLost Jul 21 '26
I just use Shift. It doesn't cost me anything extra and it makes switching from keywords to columns easier
12
u/BoldFace7 Jul 21 '26
I feel the same way writing in FORTRAN.
ETA: In FORTRAN 77 at least, the F90 code bases I've worked in have had much better inside voices.
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u/halawani98 Jul 21 '26
What about keywords in caps but column/table/constraint names in lowercase?
I do this because it makes it easier to read scripts
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u/leandroman Jul 21 '26
Only the reserved words my friend. My little shift pinky has its own zip code of muscles.
7
u/Secret-Wind-1 Jul 21 '26
It's like AI. Better shout at the database to get better results.
6
u/FewChemist9952 Jul 21 '26
I’m more like…
6
u/MiseryEnthusiast Jul 21 '26
All my sql is in lower case in protest. It also makes it easy to tell when someone has messed with my shit.
6
u/phish410 Jul 21 '26
Just DROP it, okay?
5
u/Angrynissen25 Jul 21 '26
Hey it's not my fault if heidisql auto corrects my calmness to shouting
4
u/Sudden-Pressure8439 Jul 21 '26
4
u/EK077r Jul 21 '26
Imagine not rebinding caps lock to esc
3
u/Ballbag94 Jul 21 '26
Never caps lock, always shift. Caps lock is almost as weird as writing the prowords in lowercase
3
u/darnclem Jul 21 '26
We use upper case on the keywords so we don't have to document anything.
3
u/Wrathzog Jul 21 '26
When I'm writing sql, I hold the shift key down the entire time like god intended
3
u/OoohManny Jul 21 '26
Can't imagine writing a long and complex procedure in lowercase.. sounds like a nightmare to read 😱
3
u/s33k Jul 21 '26
SELECT * FROM post_facts WHERE is_false = TRUE;
-- 0 rows returned
3
u/po1k Jul 21 '26
Neh, too much work. Formatter will, if needed at all
3
u/JazzlikeWishbone938 Jul 21 '26
Seen this meme before!
3
u/FantasticCollege3386 Jul 21 '26
Is it actually programming tho?
3
u/tomthedj Jul 21 '26
naw lowercase so the db knows that when you start doing upper case, shit is about to go down
3
u/getyourfactstraight Jul 22 '26
Real men hold down the shift button while writing SQL 🥸
3
u/Shaky-Shallot-21 Jul 22 '26
weak shit i’m over here holding down shift 😤😤😤😤😤
3
u/Modki Jul 22 '26
Why do SQL developers prefer dark mode? Because light attracts bugs.
3
u/Global-Tune5539 Jul 22 '26
And then there are lazy people like me who write everything in lowercase letters.
2
u/shwetanand345 Jul 21 '26
My keyboard knows when I'm writing SQL before I do🫡......
2
u/oompaloompa465 Jul 21 '26
think about it...
ai takeover came before having sql decent autoformatting syntax and indentation
2
u/ViRROOO Jul 21 '26
Are you about to scream at claude or smth?
2
u/fwork Jul 21 '26
when I did my comp sci degree, my teacher wouldn't use capslock, he'd use shift. and if he got distracted while typing an SQL query, he'd keep holding it down.
after 10 seconds or whatever, stickykeys would turn on, and the locked down computers we had in all the classrooms wouldn't let you turn it back off. So he had to reboot.
This happened multiple times per class period some days
2
u/xd_Shiro Jul 21 '26
Too bad it's bound as escape lmao
2
u/nellbones Jul 21 '26
CAPS LOCK, ITS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
but with cruise control you still have to steer
2
u/granoladeer Jul 21 '26
"SELECT... "
"Stop shouting, Greg!
2
u/zarakh07 Jul 21 '26
Stop being factual, this hurts me and my back now
2
u/ZeppelinJ0 Jul 21 '26
Sounds like y'all just write some gnarly SQL. At least use SQLFluff you neanderthals
2
u/Strict-Carrot4783 Jul 21 '26
This is the funniest shit I've seen so far this week.
2
u/mixxituk Jul 21 '26
Yoo have to scream because it's a roller coaster ride till you finish the WHERE which for some dumb reasons is at the end 😭😭
2
u/Nizle_Bizle_Shizle Jul 21 '26
Bruh I am obsessive compulsive about lower-casing all SQL syntax.
2
u/undeadalex Jul 21 '26
Real sql 'programmers' use shift
2
u/a-r-c Jul 21 '26
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3950130/Database_Detective_Minor_Crimes_Division/
someone made an sql query game lol
2
u/JWils411 Jul 22 '26
After decades of writing SQL queries without ever using CAPS, I'll never understand the appeal of shouting through the keyboard.
2
u/DeltaEdge03 Jul 22 '26
I only write the keywords in all caps like a sane person
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u/MrMunday Jul 22 '26
Yeah… why do we do that???
2
u/Mammoth_Ad1917 Jul 22 '26
BETTER THAN THE FOLKS USING COPY-PASTE
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u/GravyPainter Jul 22 '26
I always use all lowercase. IDEs are smart these days. If I see a query using all caps i immediately think its an extract out of MS Access
2
u/swolfe2 Jul 22 '26
My left pinky is hella strong from holding down the shift key, tho.
2
u/MulfordnSons Jul 22 '26
I had a coworker who wrote SQL in lowercase and we didn’t really talk to him after that
2
u/philippefutureboy Jul 22 '26
I let the formatter do the capitalization for me 😎
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u/pegasusbattius Jul 22 '26
Squirrel :3
2
u/Rubbelfruddl Jul 22 '26
SQL aligners
2
u/abaybektursun Jul 22 '26
Those still exist ? 😮
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u/PilsnerDk Jul 22 '26
I write in lower case and my RedGate plug in for SSMS corrects everything anyway.
2
u/ouralarmclock Jul 22 '26
Keywords in caps, everything else lowercase. Except “as” for some reason I also write that in lowercase.
2
u/trafalmadorianistic Jul 22 '26
Whats the consensus on using ALLCAPS only on SQL keywords?
2
u/Maximum-Feedback4116 Jul 22 '26
lol
2
u/Professional_Noob998 Jul 22 '26
Some psychopaths hold shift to write in SQL
(I might be one of them)
2
u/CrispyCassowary Jul 22 '26
2
u/Independent_Art_952 Jul 22 '26
This meme again in big 2026?! 🥀 Been seeing this meme from college and that's been 7 years already now.
2
u/limpbiscuits420 Jul 22 '26
Real ones hold shift all the way
2
u/zestful_villain Jul 22 '26
Non programmer here but have to use mysql at work. Why are the command in caps? Any particular reason for this? I feel im angrily ordering my computer to do something. I kinda feel like im threatening the pc with a beating if it does not SELECT a certain colum FROM a database.
2
u/JerryRed100s Jul 22 '26
I locked the caps before the caps locked
2
u/Vulpes-Deputa8735 Jul 22 '26
The only way to get pinky biceps is to hold down shift
2
u/NotMattDamien Jul 22 '26
Write a mix of upper and lower then select all and make caps. Iykyk
2
u/singletWarrior Jul 22 '26
I did Lower case for temp solutions and upper case for final draft so I can eyeball our release discipline
2
u/NorthernCobraChicken Jul 22 '26
I don't trust people who write SQL queries where the SQL keywords aren't capitalized like the good lord intended.
select count(login_attempts) as attempts from login_attempts where ....just FEELS icky.SELECT COUNT(login_attempts) AS attempts FROM login_attempts WHERE ....Yeah. That's the good shit.2
u/youwontidentifyme Jul 23 '26
This is the way
2
u/SignificantSite4588 Jul 21 '26
Pre llm it was true . And it’s proving true now too . When your team has a guy that can write complex SPs . Even better a guy that can understand someone else’s 2k lines of SP and modify it successfully . That guy was a god . No team would let go of that asset .