Re^2: Computing results through Arrays

[aaron_baugher]

I agree that a database could be a good way to store this data, especially if it's going to be mined in various ways. However, if I'm given this file as-is and told to produce the reports specified by the OP, I'm not going to go to the trouble to put it in a database so that I can run SQL statements on it. I can write a script to get it directly in far less time, so a database will only become an advantage if I need to pull reports from it in several different ways. (And I already know SQL; the newbie would have to learn a second language first.)

[Laurent_R]

aaron_baugher:

I agree that a database could be a good way to store this data, especially if it's going to be mined in various ways. However, if I'm given this file as-is and told to produce the reports specified by the OP, I'm not going to go to the trouble to put it in a database so that I can run SQL statements on it. I can write a script to get it directly in far less time, so a database will only become an advantage if I need to pull reports from it in several different ways.

I agree with every single word of what you say, Aaron.

To me, using a database is overkill for such a simple problem. I would certainly not do that unless there are some other very good reasons to do it.

[GotToBTru]

Yeah. That's why my reply is a good third reply. As long as the scope of the problem stays this small and this specific, no need to bring out the big guns. In case it won't ... the sooner he learns databases and SQL, the better.

[aaron_baugher]

Fair enough, DBI/SQL is certainly a good extra skill for a Perl programmer to have. I just don't want to overwhelm a guy who hasn't shown any Perl skills yet. This wouldn't exactly be trivial SQL, either, since it would require a combination of SUM, SUBSTR, and GROUP BY, at least.