Re: A new proof of the superiority of set oriented approaches: numerical/time serie linear interpolation

From: Bob Badour <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca>
Date: Thu, 03 May 2007 11:11:48 -0300
Message-ID: <4639ed77$0$4028$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net>

Jon Heggland wrote:

> paul c wrote:
>

>>(I was only trying to counter what I thought was an attempt to make
>>variables inherent in RT as opposed to the language people apply it with.)

>
> That may be an admirable goal---the idea of a functional
> programming-style database seems to surface from time to time, though I
> have yet to see anything concrete---but to talk vaguely about names for
> relations (or relation values), that may refer to different relations at
> different times, is (in my opinion) just trying to describe a variable
> without actually using the "v" word.
>
> As for variables being inherent to RT ... You can discuss relational
> algebra without mentioning variables; the algebra is only concerned with
> values.

I disagree. Algebra is all about variables and symbolic manipulation of variables. When we talk about an algebraic formula for a straight line with slope m and y-intercept b: y = mx + b, we are discussing variables   x and y. When we talk about the generalization of all such lines, m and b become variables too. Received on Thu May 03 2007 - 09:11:48 CDT