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

From: Bob Badour <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 12:37:13 GMT
Message-ID: <Z351g.61637$VV4.1151539@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca>

x wrote:
> "topmind" <topmind_at_technologist.com> wrote in message
> news:1145334015.526492.82650_at_j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>

>>It is admittedly difficult to articulate why navigational structures
>>are difficult to use.

>
> They require many loops in the code.
> The programmers don't usually analyze the loop invariants and degenerate
> cases.
> Some optimizers might have troubles with loops.

Let me add: They inherently bias expression to only a few queries making unanticipated usage patterns extremely difficult and costly, sometime even impossible, to express.

>>Navigational structures are the "Goto's" of attribute structures: they
>>"work", but are difficult to follow and inconsistent.

>
> The pointers are the Goto's.
> One of the greatest quality of relations is called "symmetric exploitation".

I agree. That is another way of saying they do NOT bias expression. Received on Tue Apr 18 2006 - 07:37:13 CDT