3 ms·

I cannot warn folks against using q/kdb+ enough. Use Polars or DuckDB, get the job done, and enjoy your life.

jerjerjer 2y ago
Eh, no need. Author states in the first two paragraphs that there are 9 versions of k, each developed from scratch and incompatible with each other. Anyone who develops software for money should and would leave immediately. I do appreciate the honesty, though.
7thaccount 2y ago
What has your experience been like? What are the drawbacks besides the cost and proprietary nature?
- ZeroCool2u 2y ago
  I don't want to be too disparaging, so I will just say that the language is exotic. Otherwise, the licensing model is Oracle-esque based on host and core counts etc. The software is fast, that you cannot deny, though it does critically depend on the speed of the storage attached to the host. Also, it's written in C++ and it shows. Had to do multiple (paid) upgrades due to memory leaks. I'm sure there was a time it was best in class and even now maybe it's the best for a few niche use cases, but unless you're absolutely certain you need it, I would flee from it and save your sanity.
  - 7thaccount 2y ago
    I thought it was written in just plain C based off old Arthur Whitney stories. Yeah...Oracle licensing sounds scary and having to pay to fix their own memory leaks sounds frustrating. Thanks for the experience.
    - ZeroCool2u 2y ago
      You know what, I can't place where exactly I heard it was C++ rather than C and they just ship you a binary blob executable, so I may be wrong and it absolutely could be plain C.
boothby 2y ago
> and enjoy your life. As somebody who hacks on, around and in esoteric languages for fun; I must object.
- ZeroCool2u 2y ago
  And as someone that has written an interpreter from scratch in F#, and since there's a free trial version, I'd say go for it and have fun and live your best life! Just perhaps reconsider allowing your livelihood to be dependent on it :)

Eh, no need. Author states in the first two paragraphs that there are 9 versions of k, each developed from scratch and incompatible with each other. Anyone who develops software for money should and would leave immediately. I do appreciate the honesty, though.

7thaccount 2y ago

What has your experience been like? What are the drawbacks besides the cost and proprietary nature?

ZeroCool2u 2y ago
I don't want to be too disparaging, so I will just say that the language is exotic. Otherwise, the licensing model is Oracle-esque based on host and core counts etc. The software is fast, that you cannot deny, though it does critically depend on the speed of the storage attached to the host. Also, it's written in C++ and it shows. Had to do multiple (paid) upgrades due to memory leaks. I'm sure there was a time it was best in class and even now maybe it's the best for a few niche use cases, but unless you're absolutely certain you need it, I would flee from it and save your sanity.
- 7thaccount 2y ago
  I thought it was written in just plain C based off old Arthur Whitney stories. Yeah...Oracle licensing sounds scary and having to pay to fix their own memory leaks sounds frustrating. Thanks for the experience.
  - ZeroCool2u 2y ago
    You know what, I can't place where exactly I heard it was C++ rather than C and they just ship you a binary blob executable, so I may be wrong and it absolutely could be plain C.

boothby 2y ago

> and enjoy your life. As somebody who hacks on, around and in esoteric languages for fun; I must object.

ZeroCool2u 2y ago
And as someone that has written an interpreter from scratch in F#, and since there's a free trial version, I'd say go for it and have fun and live your best life! Just perhaps reconsider allowing your livelihood to be dependent on it :)