Re: The Fact of relational algebra (was Re: Clean Object Class Design -- What is it?)

Hi Jesper,

Many thanks for your detailed response. I have no idea if the things you speak of are even possible, let alone probable. It sounds like you are saying that the way forward is to just keep experimenting with ad-hoc techniques, with the faith that "we'll know it when we see it" - "it" being the best solution for whatever particular problem you are trying to solve. You may be correct.

Personally, I am much more hopeful that the ideas currently being promulgated by Date and Darwen (and also Fabian Pascal and others) in their "Third Manifesto" work will provide us with a more structured, reliable and consistent basis for dealing with the general problem of digital memory banks (databases). I acknowledge that the offspring of Relational Theory have to date been pretty disappointing, and that there is every reason to be skeptical about future prospects. However, without solid, rigorous mathematical foundations, we would not have any of computers, networks, compilers, or technology in general. To me, working from a foundation of set theory, predicate logic/calculus, and suchlike are the only way I can see of progressing the art. Other than inspired ad-hocery by renegade individuals that is, which I have little faith in.

cheers,

gary Received on Thu Oct 25 2001 - 19:51:54 CDT