Evan Czaplicki: Dragging SQL into the 1990s
Come to Localhost at the Recurse Center!
Localhost is a series of technical talks in NYC given by members of the Recurse Center community. For every event, we set aside seats for the public.
Evan Czaplicki on Acadia:
SQL is great, but there have been many advancements in programming languages since it was designed in 1973. This talk explores how we can augment SQL with “new” ideas like functions, modules, and algebraic data types in an elegant way.
We will examine a database query language called Acadia that modernizes SQL without messing with its core strengths. Acadia introduces things like algebraic data types in columns, end-to-end type inference, automatic binary serialization, type-safe migrations, etc. The essential details of SQL remain, but without the unexpected NULL values and ensuing frail JSON interfaces. Acadia builds upon my work on Elm, and I feel like I have finally been able to extend Elm’s strong correctness guarantees and friendly error messages across the entire stack.
Evan Czaplicki is the author of the Elm programming language. Elm is used by companies like Brilliant.org and Corvus Insurance (which was acquired for $435 million in 2023). Evan is also the co-founder of Acadia Engineering, where he develops Elm in a stable and sustainable way. Evan was a resident at the Recurse Center in 2014 and 2016.
Links:
Doors open and refreshments will be available at 6:30 pm. The talk will begin at 7:00 pm, with a few minutes reserved at the end for Q+A.
This event is in-person only. A recording of the talk will be made available on the Recurse Center YouTube channel.
Poster designed by Eva Khoury.