I wince every time I use application code to do what I know SQL can do faster and easier. ORMs are nice but it's often impossible to translate performant SQL into the ORM's API. SQL is just so concise.
Indeed. Doing data retrieval and manipulation with application code instead of SQL is like doing web layout with JS instead of CSS or doing graphics with canvas instead of HTML/SVG. Sure it's more flexible, but it's also far less simple, readable, and in many circumstances less performant. "Rule of least power" is a good principle. [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_least_power
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