Re: 4 the Faq: Strengths and Weaknesses of Data Models
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:50:04 GMT
Message-ID: <MHmbd.265$_%5.80_at_trnddc07>
"Kenneth Downs" <firstinit.lastname_at_lastnameplusfam.net> wrote in message
news:n53kkc.0h1.ln_at_mercury.downsfam.net...
> It seems to be taken for granted by the majority in this ng that the RDM
> is
> superior to the hierarchical and network data models. I am in that
> majority, but I realize it is probably for me more a matter of faith than
> proof.
>
> So the question is: why did RDM win the database wars? Was it really on
> strengths, or was it, shudder to think, just one of those trends that IT
> goes through?
>
> What is normally stated in the group is that RDM has a mathematical basis
> that gives us a strategy for correctness, which Hierarchical and Network
> did not. Yet somebody in this ng mentioned a few days ago that those
> models were given a more rigorous footing later on. Could the
> hierarchical
> model now be just as thorough, except that RDM already won?
Old news, old question. Simply put, greater degrees of physical data independence and more capabilities in providing logical data independence. It's a given.
- Da