Re: Enforcing Business Rules

Barnel Saintilma <bt974_at_ncf.ca>  

> The misunderstanding is the following. Is a database application better
> off using its application (front end) to enforce business rules or
> using the database (back end).

For portability purposes, the back end (only). That way ANSI SQL code containing all rules' requirements is 100% portable between hardware and RDBMS vendor platforms.

> In other words does the database support
> the application? or does the application support the database?

The above does not restate your question because it depends entirely on your definition of "application" and "database". But as stated alone, the database supports the application because the database implementation IS the application.

> Thing
> really get ugly when you are trying to develop a business application
> where you find the D.B.A. and the lead developer (who is also leading
> the entire project) sitting at the same table arguing who's got the best
> solution to a problem.

The DBA is supposed to support the developer, but the developer is not supposed to lead the entire project. You have a serious management problem because a Project Manager should be leading the project to instruct both the DBA and developer what to do. (There is clearly no independent QA group in your shop, otherwise the whistle would have been blown long ago on the developer for grapping so many hats.)  

> What I would like to know is being that both statement can be true
> depending on your situation how do you strike a happy medium between the
> two?

You can't, otherwise it would be RDBMS situation ethics! But both statements could be views of the project if a Project Manager were in office.  

> From a D.B.A. who is trying to make peace with (or break into pieces)
> his fellow developers.

Maybe you can petition the company to become the Project Manager and pull rank on the developer who is attempting to wear that hat. Or get another job (much better suggestion), and go to work for a real company with decent management and vision. Received on Sat Jan 29 2000 - 00:00:00 CET