A method for generating database queries from declarative queries having a known syntax. The method includes a query preparation software receiving a declarative query in a known system form. The query preparation software then analyzes the declarative query to build a set of generic query tasks with identified data types. The query preparation software then optimizes the set of generic query tasks and builds a target database query from the optimized generic query tasks reflecting features of a target database. The method further includes the query preparation software submitting the target database query to the target database.