What is the current data language?
The post argues that with AI acting as a "super compiler," the current data language is natural human speech rather than Python, R, or SQL. The author predicts future data engineers will not need to learn SQL, as AI translates speech into JavaScript, which can run on both browsers and servers.
Background
- The Hacker News post asks "what is the current data language?" — i.e., which programming language (Python, R, SQL) dominates data work. The author argues that the answer is shifting: natural human language, because AI tools act as "super compilers" that translate plain speech into code.
- The author predicts SQL will become unnecessary for data engineers, similar to how most programmers no longer write assembly language. They also suggest JavaScript (JS) may become the target language that AI translates human speech into, because JS can run both in browsers and on servers (via Node.js).
- This reflects a broader ongoing debate in tech: as AI coding assistants (Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.) improve, do domain experts still need to learn programming languages, or can they just describe what they want?