I still remember that day. A day that shall live on in infamy in my mind. Well over a decade ago, in the days when SQL Server roamed the land devouring souls on the Altar of Stored Procedures. There was only one tool available at the time. SQL. That’s it. There was one problem that had to be solved.
The answer? A recursive CTE.
At the same time … both a demon of the dark and a shining angel from the heavens. Just depends on your view.
Do you think I’m just trying to get you to click? Maybe. Maybe not. After working in and around Data Teams for well over a decade, with both the smartest people to touch the keyboard, and the others, it’s become quite clear to me what the number one skill that identifies a Senior level Engineering from the peons rummaging around in the StackOverflow garbage can for snippets, is.
I’m sure there will be hand-wringing, curses, tears, and generally weeping and moaning in the land, like some medieval plague that has swept away everything we hold dear. So just calm yourselves, sit down, and get your angry little fingers off that keyboard. Hear me out.