Re: Idea: Avoid JOINs by using path expressions to follow FKs

In a Hacker News discussion [2] on using foreign keys for joins,

the author of PostgREST, Steve Chavez, mentioned they are actually already

using this idea in PostgREST:

Steve Chavez wrote:

>The idea about using FK as a JOIN target is interesting.

>While developing a syntax for PostgREST resource embedding[1],

>I also reached the conclusion that FKs would be a convenient way to join tables

>(also suggested renaming them as you do here).

>

>IIRC, self joins are still an issue with FK joining.

>

>[1]: https://postgrest.org/en/v7.0.0/api.html#embedding-disambiguation

I think this idea looks very promising and fruitful.

Maybe we can think of some other existing/new operator which would be acceptable,

instead of using "->" (which is potentially in conflict with the SQL standard's "REF" thing)?

Not saying we should move forward on our own with this idea,

but if we can come up with a complete proposal,

maybe it can be presented as an idea to the SQL committee?

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26693705

/Joel