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

Marshall Spight wrote:
> Alvin Ryder wrote:
> > Marshall Spight wrote:
> >
> > > And anyway, I wouldn't say the RM is the best tool for
> > > *everything.* Just the best tool for data management.
> >
> > Only certain kinds of data, it's not very good for: temporal, spatial,
> > logic, oo, multimedia, unstructured and document libraries, ... but yes
> > it has some strengths too.
>
> The RM is a practical application of set theory. Is set theory
> good for some kinds of data but not others? Set theory
> is foundational. The analogy to what you are saying ("good
> for some things, not for others") would be like saying that
> some parts of a house need a foundation, but not others.
>
> What kinds of data can't you put in sets?
>

Sure you can put any kind of data into a set but if you know that that data is temporal or spatial you can provide further intelligence and facilitate that data better.

Just because the RM is based on set theory (amongst other things) it doesn't mean it has to stop there. It doesn't have to mean "RM" equals "set theory".

Its not only a question of can you merely put any data into a set, its a question of is the base RM *good* at handling temporal, spatial, dedictive, oo, multimedia, unstructured and document library type data.

For certain advancements changes need to occur at the RM level, relational algebra and if necessary even at the set theory level (I doubt that it is static).

Codd and others have not been idle in this pursuit, though of course it'll be decades before it all becomes common knowledge.

Cheers. Received on Tue May 02 2006 - 02:54:28 CEST