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

> Prolog also uses linked lists which can be nested. In addition, you can place structures in the list, and the structures can contain atoms and lists and "lists of lists" and "lists of lists and atoms," etc. There is no 'program.' The system is an ordered database of assertions. You start the logic engine by asking a question. The engine attempts to answer the question using the information in the database, matching as it goes, using a depth-first tree search. The underlying math is predicate calculus and horn clauses. Primitives in the language allow you to assert data into the database, thus modifying the 'program'. This allows the system to learn. .
Thanks for the above info. It seems the focus of Prolog and my db (with LISP-like interface) are quite different (at least at this time). While Prolog's primary focus seems to be deducing answering based on questions and data stored in linked lists; the focus of the experimental db is to provide the most flexible method of representing things. I believe I have already surpassed RM. And as far as I can tell, linked-lists are not even as flexible as RM. IMO, all else is built upon the ability to store/recall things. Any weakness/inflexibility at the foundation eventually leads to limitations in applications built on top of it. This is the case with RM/SQL. This will also be the case with LISP and Prolog. However, I am sure currently and for years to come, Prolog/LISP will have better algorithm for processing whatever data it can store/recall from linked lists.

Below is a simple example that stores a person named John who likes Mary and then finds who John likes. Could you or someone familiar with Prolog show how to do this. Later I would like to extend the example to distill Prolog's fundamental forte (and possible weakness in representing things).

// Create type person.
(create type instance (new))
(create (it) name (findElseAdd name instance 'person'))

// Create a person named John.
(create person instance (new))
(create (it) name (findElseAdd name instance 'john'))

// Create a person named Mary.
(create person instance (new))
(create (it) name (findElseAdd name instance 'mary'))

// Create verb instance like.
(create verb instance (new))
(create (it) name (findElseAdd name instance 'like'))

// Create John likes Mary.
(create john like mary)

// Who does John like?
// Displays mary.
(msgbox (select john like *))
Received on Fri Apr 14 2006 - 05:54:48 CEST