👀 Views: 76 💬 Answers: 1 📅 Created: 2025-06-15

sqlite recursive-cte sql SQL

I'm working on a project and hit a roadblock. I'm trying to implement a recursive CTE in SQLite to traverse a hierarchical data structure, but I'm not getting the expected results. I have a table called `employees` with the following structure: ```sql CREATE TABLE employees ( id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT NOT NULL, manager_id INTEGER, FOREIGN KEY (manager_id) REFERENCES employees(id) ); ``` The goal is to find all subordinates for a given manager, including indirect reports. I've written the following recursive CTE: ```sql WITH RECURSIVE subordinates AS ( SELECT id, name, manager_id FROM employees WHERE manager_id = ? -- Placeholder for the manager's ID UNION ALL SELECT e.id, e.name, e.manager_id FROM employees e INNER JOIN subordinates s ON e.manager_id = s.id ) SELECT * FROM subordinates; ``` When I run this query with a manager ID of `1`, I expect to see all employees under that manager. However, I only get direct reports back and none of the deeper levels. I've also ensured that the `manager_id` is correctly set for all employees. I tried modifying the base query to include conditions that would filter out NULL or invalid `manager_id`s, but it hasn't changed the outcome. I also used the following test data: ```sql INSERT INTO employees (id, name, manager_id) VALUES (1, 'Alice', NULL); INSERT INTO employees (id, name, manager_id) VALUES (2, 'Bob', 1); INSERT INTO employees (id, name, manager_id) VALUES (3, 'Charlie', 1); INSERT INTO employees (id, name, manager_id) VALUES (4, 'David', 2); INSERT INTO employees (id, name, manager_id) VALUES (5, 'Eve', 2); ``` Yet the output only includes 'Bob' and 'Charlie' when I expect it to also include 'David' and 'Eve'. Am I missing something in the recursive logic, or is there a specific limitation in how SQLite handles recursive CTEs? Any guidance or tips on debugging this would be appreciated. I'm working on a API that needs to handle this. How would you solve this?