Re: Storing data and code in a Db with LISP-like interface

From: Jan Hidders <hidders_at_gmail.com>
Date: 12 Apr 2006 08:41:44 -0700
Message-ID: <1144856504.413527.93360@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com>

Nick Malik [Microsoft] wrote:
> "Neo" <neo55592_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1144029234.495256.11540_at_u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> >> > Neo: ... experimental db that can store both data and code ...
> >>
> >> Lahman: My push back has to be: Why?
> >
> > :) To approach the type of processing capability displayed by humans.
> > While I will not achieve anything like that in my life time,
> > manipulating code just like data allows solutions for some niche
> > applications (AI-ish) that are impractical with existing tools.

> Aren't you basically reinventing Prolog or one of its variants? The notion
> of code in a database where the code modifies itself as part of the data
> management is fundamental to Prolog.

Prolog? Didn't you mean Lisp, or some other functional programming language that allows you to manipulate functions? I wouldn't immediately associate Prolog with "manipulate code as data". Could be me, of course. :-)

Jan Hidders

Received on Wed Apr 12 2006 - 10:41:44 CDT