A recent interview question that I had to review was spelled like this:
Find missing int element into array 1..100
Of course at first read I got it wrong, you have only one integer to look for into the array. So while the obvious idea was to apply classic sorting techniques and minimize array traversal to handle complexity (time and space), it turns out there’s a much simpler way to do it if you remember your math lessons from younger. But is it that much simpler?
In our previous article Aggregating NBA data, PostgreSQL vs MongoDB we spent time comparing the pretty new MongoDB Aggregation Framework with the decades old SQL aggregates. Today, let’s showcase more of those SQL aggregates, producing a nice histogram right from our SQL console.
When reading the article Crunching 30 Years of NBA Data with MongoDB Aggregation I coulnd’t help but think that we’ve been enjoying aggregates in SQL for 3 or 4 decades already. When using PostgreSQL it’s even easy to actually add your own aggregates given the SQL command create aggregate.
PostgreSQL is an all round impressive Relational DataBase Management System which implements the SQL standard (see the very useful reference page Comparison of different SQL implementations for details). PostgreSQL also provides with unique solutions in the database market and has been leading innovation for some years now. Still, there’s no support for Autonomous Transactions within the server itself. Let’s have a look at how to easily implement them with PL/Proxy.
