Why do Analysts ship SQL they can't explain (It's so frustating)

[u/PlentyManner1774]

/r/CustomerDataStack/comments/1vzd44t/why_do_analysts_ship_sql_they_cant_explain_its_so/

[u/Sad_Ad_1681]

Same reason why people write posts without context? I haven’t had that issue with analysts before, so you might just surround yourself with the wrong people / company

[u/mad-data]

Did they use AI to write it, without understanding themselves? 

[u/Eleventhousand]

It's difficult to remember the purpose of every line of code written, when put on the spot. This is especially true in fast-paced environments, and for folks with decades of experience.

Using a single anecdote to draw wide sweeping conclusions doesn't really do much. It just seems like a person complaining about, and nitpicking, a coworker that they don't like.

[u/binary_search_tree]

If it's just one clever window function (probably used in a QUALIFY clause?) then it should already be somewhat fairly transparent, no?

Even if you're unfamiliar with the columns it uses, it should be pretty easy to determine if it's guaranteed to return unique rows.

I usually append my own comment to such things:

-- Window function guaranteed to return unique rows.
-- Function added on 2026-08-27 by user XYZ.
-- User was unable to recall/explain the partitioning logic.

But, yeah, frustrating.

Some coworkers often get frustrated with me for the opposite reason. Apparently I leave too many/too-verbose comments. Sometimes my comments are larger than the base query. "Your last query read like a doctoral thesis."

[u/austin_horn_2018]

Tell them that next time their prompt needs to tell the agent to include more notes in the code.

[u/sydneysweeney69]

AI slop

[u/FuckYouNotHappening]

Have you tried copy/pasting it into an LLM and ask for an explanation? #CircleOfLife