---
title: "Discussion on \"\"Poor Man's SQL\": Accessing the PicoLisp Database with SELECT\" | Hashnode"
description: "Discussion on \"\"Poor Man's SQL\": Accessing the PicoLisp Database with SELECT\". In the last post, we have seen how we can do complex queries on the PicoLisp Database with help of Pilog.\nNow we will see an alternative way that may be more convenient for same cases: The select function with a similar syntax to the SQL language.\n\nU..."
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/poor-mans-sql-accessing-the-picolisp-database-with-select/61921f02fd4e554b5f3e7e6a"
---

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# ["Poor Man's SQL": Accessing the PicoLisp Database with SELECT](https://picolisp-explored.com/poor-mans-sql-accessing-the-picolisp-database-with-select?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

In the last post, we have seen how we can do complex queries on the PicoLisp Database with help of Pilog. Now we will see an alternative way that may be more convenient for same cases: The select function with a similar syntax to the SQL language. U...

Nov 15, 2021 · 3 min read · picolisp-explored.com  
Updated Jan 11  
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-   [#sql](https://hashnode.com/tag/sql)
-   [#databases](https://hashnode.com/tag/databases)
-   [#functional-programming](https://hashnode.com/tag/functional-programming)

## Written by

[Mia Temma](https://hashnode.com/@miatemma)

@miatemma · Berlin, Germany

  
[View profile](https://hashnode.com/@miatemma)

## Responses 1

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[Nehal Singhal](https://hashnode.com/@nehal5)

[Jan 25, 2023](https://hashnode.com/posts/poor-mans-sql-accessing-the-picolisp-database-with-select/61921f02fd4e554b5f3e7e6a/comment/63d0cc931acaeae4c9da879b)

Nice! How did this come: : (select dat fin nm (mate nm) +Person nm "Edward" job "King")

Explain slightly more if possible.

[Nehal Singhal](https://hashnode.com/@nehal5)

[Jan 25, 2023](https://hashnode.com/posts/poor-mans-sql-accessing-the-picolisp-database-with-select/61921f02fd4e554b5f3e7e6a/comment/63d0cc931acaeae4c9da879b#reply-63d0cf7b1acaeae4c9da8814)

As per this line of code, the first three attributes after select are parameters for comparison, then the class to be seen and thereafter data that function select supplies for comparison to look into family DB? That's the sequence?

[Mia Temma](https://hashnode.com/@miatemma)

[Feb 5, 2023](https://hashnode.com/posts/poor-mans-sql-accessing-the-picolisp-database-with-select/61921f02fd4e554b5f3e7e6a/comment/63d0cc931acaeae4c9da879b#reply-63dfc58c666a6ca61942d6d8)

Hi [Nehal Singhal](https://hashnode.com/@nehal5), right, so "dat fin nm (mate nm)" are the attributes of the requested output, e. g. birthday, death day, name and partner's name. And this is followed by the actual filter request: '+Person nm "Edward" job "king"', e.g. "find a person with the name Edward and job king".

Sorry that it was not clear! Maybe it helps if you check the corresponding SQL request one line above, that's more close to conversational English.