When should I use C++ instead of SQL?

Question

I am a C++ programmer who occasionally uses MySQL to work with databases, but my SQL knowledge is rather limited. However I am surely willing to change that.

At the moment I am trying to do analysis(!) on the data I have in my database solely with SQL queries. But I am about to give up, and instead import the data to C++ and do the analysis with C++ code.

I have discussed this with my colleagues, and they also push me to use C++, saying that SQL is not meant for complex analysis but mainly for importing (from the existing tables) and exporting (to new tables) data, and a little bit more such as merging data to - e.g. - joined tables.

Can somebody help me drawing a line? So I know when to switch to C++? Of course performance is also an issue.

What are indications that things get to complex in SQL? Or maybe I just take the wrong approach with designing the queries. Then where can I find tutorials, books, ... to take a better approach?

I hope this is not too vague. I am really a bit lost.

Answer 1

SQL excels at analyzing large sets of relational data.

The place to draw the line is the scale of your analysis.

If you analyze individual records one at a time, do it in your application.

If you analyze large sets of records as a unit, SQL is definitely the best tool for that job.

Row-by-row analysis is not something SQL is designed or optimized for very well. But, if you want to know something about a million-row group of data, do it in the database.

Answer 2

I have discussed this with my colleagues, and they also push me to use C++, saying that SQL is not meant for complex analysis but mainly for importing (from the existent tables) and exporting (to new tables) data, and a little bit more such as merging data to - e.g. - joined tables.

This is completely arbitrary. Learn SQL. There are a lot of resources available on the web for free.