Re: Modelling Complex Sentences

From: Jay Dee <ais01479_at_aeneas.net>
Date: Sat, 06 May 2006 01:20:54 GMT
Message-ID: <WRS6g.32476$P2.8071@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>

Neo wrote:

>>I'm not replying to the post; I'm simply trying to grok this.

>
>
> :) Ok, now pretend you are not reading my responses.
>
>

>>>(; Create a flower named flower1)
>>>(new 'flower1' 'flower')
>>
>>So "new <literal> <type>" creates something?

>
>
> In dbd, each expression/statement/sentence starts with "(" and ends
> with ")". An expression can contain 1 to many elements. The first
> element is the function/command which in this case is "new". This
> causes dbd to create a new "node" (similar to an atom in Prolog,
> similar to a con in LISP, similar to a table/tuple in RM).

A node. Similar to many things, I take it -- but what is it?

  I call it a
> "node" mainly because it becomes part of a network (yeah I know, I am
> re-inventing the network data model). The remaining elements are called
> parameters. The new function can have 0 to many parameters. The first
> parameter (if present) is a string that symbolizes a word that names
> the thing being represented.

The head-scratching starts here: expression? function? elements? no parameters? no mention of arguments? "(new)" does something; "(new 'p1')" does something; "(new 'p1' p2)" does something else.

Words like expression, function, parameter, element, and argument are being tossed into the mix without any sort of definition -- and, believe me, having seen these words used in a variety of languages, I can imagine *boatloads* of definitions for each. What are yours?

  The remaining parameters (if present)
> relate the new thing to specified classes. If those classes don't
> exist, they are created.
>
>

>>>(; Create flower1 attribute brightest color is fluorescent red)
>>>(; Long method)
>>>(create bright modify color)
>>
>>and "create <something> [attribute|modify]" creates something?

>
>
> Yes, it creates a "node" to represent the specified relationship. In
> RM, it might be similar to INSERT INTO T_Relationship (bright, modify,
> color).
>
>

>>>(create (select flower1 attribute (select bright modify color))
>>>        is
>>>        (select fluorescent modify red))
>>
>>and "create <a selected something> is <a selected something>"
>>creates something?

>
>
> Similar to above except, the subject and object are determined by
> select queries. And each subexpression within select is similar to a
> join in RM.
>
>

>>and "is" and "was" and "on" are... what?  how 'bout "willBe?"

>
>
> Good observation. When a new db is created, dbms enters basic things
> which includes "is", "was" and "willBe" which are classified as tense
> currently.
>
>

>>>(; Create john says
>>>   "flower1 attribute brightest color willBe fluorescent blue
>>>    on friday")
>>
>>so the expression in double quotes is _______.

>
>
> An expression with the function named ";" is a comment. This is similar
> to LISP however they do not include the surrounding parentheses.
>
>

>>and the magic words "flower," "person," etc. are...  what? declared? defined?

>
>
> They were created by the new function as described above.
>
>

>>  but the magic "attribute" and "verb" aren't?

>
>
> Good observation. When a new db is created, dbms enters basic things
> which includes "attribute" and "verb".

I'm trying to stick with this: What question is being asked? And what answer might the user expect?

>>>(create john
>>>        say
>>>        (select flower1
>>>                  attribute
>>>                    (select bright modify color)
>>>                      willBe
>>>                        (select fluorescent modify blue)
>>>                          on friday))
>>
>>"select" denotes <something?>

>
>
> Select selects a "node" that represents that specified by parameters
> which in this case is a relationship. This is similar to SELECT * FROM
> T_Relationships WHERE subject=bright, verb=modify, object=color;

Okay, you've got to stop saying "similar to the RM CREATE, INSERT, DELETE" -- 'cause there ain't none.

 >> I'm not throwing rocks.
>
> Then what does the comment "For some reason the phrase 'box of rocks'
> keeps popping into my thoughts." mean?

You're referring to the "Shared game-data" thread? Because of that nonsense about "normalization... reduces performance," "the time it takes to normalized data," and "the time it takes to retrieve normalized data." The "no response" to questions about "data mgmt."

>>I tried the links to db-whatever.com and got nowhere.

>
>
> I haven't been stating the website as many c.d.t. members accuse me of
> being an snake oil salesman.
>
>

>>Have you got any guide to the grammar?

>
>
> Yes.
>
>

>>Semantic decoder?

How does one know what a dbd expression means?

> Not sure exactly what you mean but most likely the answer is no;
> however, this doesn't prevent dbd from answering complex queries when
> formed correctly by app/user.
>
>

>>I mean, comment after comment says "create," but I can't figure out what's being created.

See, I'm trying to hang here a bit longer. You seem to have something on your mind and I'm enough of an optimist to think that, perhaps, you're just having trouble finding the words you need to explain your idea.

> Are you familiar with the CREATE and INSERT commands in RM? The concept
> is similar.

I'm familiar enough with the RM to know there ain't no CREATE and INSERT. (Remarks like that cause others to think that you think that SQL is a manifestation of the relational model.) Strict interpretation of your response might lead some to think that "the concept" is vapid.

>>Are "new," "create," and "select" all there is?

>
>
> No, there are a few more, but new, select, create, update and delete
> are the core functions currently.
Received on Fri May 05 2006 - 20:20:54 CDT