CockroachDB encountered a significant, long-standing bug in its SQL handling due to a combination of design flaws and language constraints, specifically in the way it managed table and column references using Go. The bug, a classic "schrödinbug," was exposed through fuzz testing, which revealed that improperly handled SQL syntax could cause the database server to crash. The root issue stemmed from using a single, complex Go data type, `QualifiedName`, for multiple SQL objects, which led to errors in normalization and checking. To resolve this, the team implemented a more robust solution by introducing distinct types for different SQL objects, ensuring more precise handling and reducing the risk of similar issues in the future. This change required extensive modifications to the SQL codebase but ultimately strengthened the system's reliability by leveraging strong typing practices.