Suggestion. Optional local ORDER BY clause for DISTINCT ON

Started by Stefan Stefanovover 2 years ago2 messageshackers
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#1Stefan Stefanov
stefanov.sm@abv.bg

Gents, I have a suggestion for DISTINCT ON clause syntax.

DISTINCT ON (expression(s) [ORDER BY expression(s)])
Determines the precedence within each DISTINCT ON group (i.e. the ‘first’ row to be picked)

Motivation
• Using the query-wide ORDER BY clause to determine which record to pick mixes two unrelated concerns, ‘first’ row selection and result-set ordering. This may be confusing;
• The DISTINCT ON expression(s) must match the leftmost ORDER BY expression(s). This may cause inconvenience and require nesting as a sub-query to order the result-set.

Pros
• Backward compatibility. If the local ORDER BY clause is missing then the current rules shall apply;
• Familiar and consistent syntax and semantics, the same as in *_agg functions;
• Clear distinction of first row selection and result-set ordering;
• Good readability;
• The DISTINCT ON expression(s) do not have to match the leftmost ORDER BY expression(s).

Cons
• Possible extra verbosity
Best regards, Stefan
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#2Tom Lane
tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us
In reply to: Stefan Stefanov (#1)
Re: Suggestion. Optional local ORDER BY clause for DISTINCT ON

Stefan Stefanov <stefanov.sm@abv.bg> writes:

Gents, I have a suggestion for DISTINCT ON clause syntax.
DISTINCT ON (expression(s) [ORDER BY expression(s)])
Determines the precedence within each DISTINCT ON group (i.e. the ‘first’ row to be picked)

Motivation
• Using the query-wide ORDER BY clause to determine which record to pick mixes two unrelated concerns, ‘first’ row selection and result-set ordering. This may be confusing;
• The DISTINCT ON expression(s) must match the leftmost ORDER BY expression(s). This may cause inconvenience and require nesting as a sub-query to order the result-set.

Since you can get the desired behavior with a sub-select, I'm
not especially excited about extending DISTINCT ON. If it weren't
such a nonstandard kluge, I might feel differently; but it's not
an area that I think we ought to put more effort into.

regards, tom lane