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I have worked with a MySQL database where the designer(s) decided that, on many of the tables, -1 should represent no value instead of null. As you can imagine,
by bootlooped 8y ago
I have worked with a MySQL database where the designer(s) decided that, on many of the tables, -1 should represent no value instead of null. As you can imagine, this has caused some problems when they've done this with columns representing dollar amounts.
This was done because of their belief that having any nulls in the table is the kiss of death for performance; they've used the phrase "tablescan" a lot. I have not been able to find a basis for these claims.
- fphhotchips 8y agoDatabases, and MySQL in particular because of how many of it's defaults are pants-on-head nonsensical, are a haven of cargo cult performance rituals. I have a suspicion this is because, rather than analysing their own N! loops/queries, it's easier for mediocre programmers just to blame the database.