Do People Use Naming Conventions in SQL Programming?

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the usage of naming conventions in SQL programming. To this end, we define a reference style, consisting of naming conventions that have been proposed in the literature. Then, we perform an empirical study that involves the database schemas of 21 open source projects. In our study, we evaluate the adherence of the names that are used in the schemas to the reference style. Moreover, we study how the adherence of the names to the reference style evolves, during the lifetime of the schemas. Our study reveals that many conventions are followed in all schemas. The adherence to these conventions is typically stable, during the lifetime of the schemas. However, there are also conventions that are partially followed, or even not followed. Over time, the adherence of the schemas to these conventions may improve, decay or remain stable.