The DelightQL Query Language
4 points by reverendpaco
4 points by reverendpaco
Hey all, I would like to present a programming language I have been developing for many years called delightql.
This is an alpha release so there will be rough edges, but I have used it at home and work and have liked it enough to now throw it out into the world and see if it sticks. It's always a good thing if you like the language you've developed.
Delightql transpiles to SQL and looks something like a cross between Prolog, Elixir and cough Perl.
I will try now to enumerate some features:
Coding in delightql will feel like a concatenative language insofar as the meaning of the query is explicitly read from left to right.
The language is implemented in Rust and is Apache licensed. I used LLMs over the past year and a half to help me with the implementation. The design (syntax, semantics, and features) is all my own work.
To that last point, I note that out of pure happenstance my mode of working was exactly suited to this new world of LLMs. Back in 2020 I decided to stop implementing and just write. By 2025, I had finished writing the book about the language I wanted.
I'd love to hear what makes sense, what doesn't, and/or kudos/criticisms.
What does it offer over PRQL besides having a non crashing compiler? The tree expressions look interesting/cool!
I have purposefully avoided learning about PRQL, or Logica, or Malloy, or other such similar technologies. Mostly out of concern for my own focus.
That said, I have a deep respect for all of them because they all thought "there can be a better way".
I remember when PRQL was released, I purposefully grabbed some of their examples comparing their syntax with SQL and comparing it against delightql. So, that was all a way of saying I don't know how to answer.
I'm glad you like the tree groups!