Re: By The Dawn's Normal Light
From: Kenneth Downs <firstinit.lastname_at_lastnameplusfam.net>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 09:58:25 -0400
Message-ID: <4utqlc.t2n.ln_at_mercury.downsfam.net>
> is
>
> Yes. And I think this is close to the heart of the difference between the
> way Dawn and I are looking at the elephant.
>
> My view is that, once I learned how, I could represent everything I
> needed
> to in classic 3NF. My productivity in business environments skyrocketed,
> compared to what I had been doing before. And I was able to deliver the
> bang for the buck, and keep my customers satisfied.
>
> Dawn's view, IIRC, is that just because you CAN represent everything in
> classic 3NF (implying 2NF and 1NF) doesn't mean that you SHOULD represent
> everything that way. That there are alternative ways of representing
> things that cost less and deliver more.
>
> Some of this difference is simply a difference between Dawn's experience
> and mine. Not all of it.
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 09:58:25 -0400
Message-ID: <4utqlc.t2n.ln_at_mercury.downsfam.net>
Laconic2 wrote:
>
> "Kenneth Downs"
>> This is a penetrating insight. The various discussions on 1NF, atomicity >> and so forth have made good reading, and me thinking, "hmmm, maybe there
> is
>> something to this..." but it still seems that anything you want to >> represent can be done with the simple man's definitions of 1NF, 2NF and >> 3NF. But trying to turn lists into tables and vice-versa is definitely a >> no-starter with SQL, you have to go to an outside language.
>
> Yes. And I think this is close to the heart of the difference between the
> way Dawn and I are looking at the elephant.
>
> My view is that, once I learned how, I could represent everything I
> needed
> to in classic 3NF. My productivity in business environments skyrocketed,
> compared to what I had been doing before. And I was able to deliver the
> bang for the buck, and keep my customers satisfied.
>
> Dawn's view, IIRC, is that just because you CAN represent everything in
> classic 3NF (implying 2NF and 1NF) doesn't mean that you SHOULD represent
> everything that way. That there are alternative ways of representing
> things that cost less and deliver more.
>
> Some of this difference is simply a difference between Dawn's experience
> and mine. Not all of it.
It seems we have had much of the same experience.
-- Kenneth Downs Use first initial plus last name at last name plus literal "fam.net" to email meReceived on Thu Oct 28 2004 - 15:58:25 CEST