Summary & Key Takeaways ​

• The article investigates how to identify the source table.column for each result in an arbitrary SQL query.
• This capability would enhance Datasette by providing additional context for query results.
• The challenge involves navigating complex SQL syntax like joins and Common Table Expressions (CTEs).
• Claude Code (Opus 4.8) was used to explore potential solutions.
• Promising approaches include using apsw, ctypes to access SQLite's C API, and interrogating EXPLAIN output.

Our Commentary ​

Simon Willison is at it again, diving into the nitty-gritty of data. This kind of problem, tracing data provenance, is deceptively complex but so crucial for robust tooling like Datasette. I find it fascinating how he leverages AI, specifically Claude Code, as a research partner. It's not just about getting answers, but exploring possibilities. It makes me think about how our own research processes are evolving.