[Tutor] Data storage, SQL?

[Bill Kranec]

I also recommend learning SQL.  It is not very hard to learn, and 
sometimes it may be advantageous to do data manipulation directly in the 
database, rather than with Python.  As far as databases go, I would 
recommend Firebird, as I have found that it has a good number of 
features, is free, and yet is also fairly easy to install and run, even 
on Windows (I could never get MySQL to work quite right). FlameRobin 
(http://flamerobin.sourceforge.net/) is a nice GUI interface for Firebird.

>(Maybe I could do a SQL primer as part of my advanced
>topics section in the tutorial... hmm. An intro to SQL then
>the next topic showing how to use the Python DBAPI to
>link SQL and Python - any takers for that idea?)
>
>Alan G
>
I would love to read an in depth explanation of the Python DBAPI.  The 
only thing preventing me from connecting my Python and SQL programs is a 
lack of understanding of the API, which boils down to ( I think ):

1. How to actually pass SQL code to the database using the API (A good 
example is all I really need).
2. Why does the API use cursor objects to pass commands to the 
database?  Isn't this inefficient from the SQL point of view?
3. What is the best way to deal with the returned result set?  Can I 
assign it to a list or dictionary?

I apologize if any of these questions are overly ignorant, and would be 
very appreciative for any help.

Bill