q Language

Use this skill when writing or reviewing q, kdb+, or q-sql. Prefer idiomatic array/table operations over translating row-oriented SQL or imperative loops.

Workflow

1. Read references/index.md first to choose the smallest relevant chapter notes.
2. For implementation tasks, start with references/recipes.md; for pasteable patterns, load references/executable-examples.md.
3. For reviews or generated-code cleanup, load references/anti-patterns.md and check for SQL literalism, atom/list rank mistakes, key misuse, and symbol interning risks.
4. For data modeling or query work, read chapter-08-tables.md and chapter-09-queries-q-sql.md before writing code.
5. For expression bugs, read chapter-01-q-shock-and-awe.md, chapter-03-lists.md, chapter-04-operators.md, and chapter-06-functions.md.
6. For type, null, cast, or enum bugs, read chapter-02-basic-data-types-atoms.md and chapter-07-transforming-data.md.
7. For persisted kdb+ databases, read chapter-11-io.md and chapter-14-introduction-to-kdb.md.
8. If an error message is supplied, read appendix-b-error-messages.md early.

q-sql Query Checklist