Re: What databases have taught me

From: Marshall <marshall.spight_at_gmail.com>
Date: 23 Jun 2006 10:00:51 -0700
Message-ID: <1151082051.235942.108180_at_g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>


Bruno Desthuilliers wrote:
> >
> > Yes, but SQL DBMSs are not R DBMSs.
>
> <trolling>
> And *this* was exactly the answer I was expecting !-)
> </trolling>

Something that is often a source of misunderstanding in crossposted threads is that comp.databases.theory is a *theory* newsgroup, and we do not limit ourselves, (or sometimes, even concern ourselves) with what products are out there today. Our concern is for theory, and for what is possible. This is not to deny the existence of practical concerns; rather it is to deny the exclusivity of practical concerns.

In *theory* you just use the transitive closure operation. Does this help you solve your practical problem today? Sorry, no. (However, you may wish to check if the database product you use does support some kind of transitive closure operation, such as Oracle's CONNECT BY.)

Marshall Received on Fri Jun 23 2006 - 19:00:51 CEST

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