Steve Jones - SSC Editor (8/22/2013)
I think this is where some layer of data access makes sense. Make calls to package/procedures that can be rewritten in a host language. Or use a method in a set of classes that can be replaced when you move from SQL Server to Oracle to MySQL.Not easy, but not too hard if you build the pattern into your development.
In writing the internal data layer for a web service a number of years back we took the approach to having one data tier. In the configuration of the service was an option for either Oracle or SQL Server. Then depending on the config setting we were able to execute the correct querybuilder and connection methods for the appropriate database. Worked well. As you say it took some design up front but it worked well.
Not all gray hairs are Dinosaurs!