Re: Flamewar object databases vs. relational databases

Carl Rosenberger wrote in message <9f9aau$q5u$06$1_at_news.t-online.com>...
>Bob Badour wrote:
>> >What is your personal favorite method to generate foreign keys in a
>> >multi-user environment?
>>
>> I don't generate foreign keys; the DBMS enforces them. The number of
 users
>> is irrelevant.
>
>Good!
>Why don't you provide a practical example?

Provide a practical example of how I don't do something? I just don't do it. Seems simple enough to me.

>table person
> personID
> name
>
>table employee
> employeeID
> personID
> department
>
>You insert one row into person and employee.

I can't. It requires two rows: a person row and an employee row.

>The foreign key in employee is to point on its person.
>What is your favourite way of doing this?

I don't really have a favourite way. I'm usually stuck using SQL in spite of how much it sucks as a relational language.

>> >> >- Object databases can analyze objects directly, without the need to
 convert
>> >> >them to a SQL string representation. That is much faster.
>> >>
>> >> Bullshit.
>> >
>> >Again:
>> >I can prove it empirically.
>>
>> Again, you cannot prove this empirically without an infinite amount of
>> effort.
>
>Again:
>Who is interested in the theory if our product is fast now?

And if Oracle is faster, and actually enforces the integrity constraints?

>> Theoretical advantages are practical advantages.
>
>Bod Badour says that theoretically relational databases can insert objects
>as fast as object databases. Who cares, if there is no product to prove it?

I did not say there is no product to prove it. I said you cannot prove your point unless you compare against every possible solution. Choosing one design on one product to compare against proves nothing.

>[JDBC]
>> >What database interface do you preferrably use, if you program with
 Java?
>>
>> I am a programmer. I'll use whatever interface is practical and
 available.
>
>Great!
>What would be your decision today, if you would need to take one?

I already answered that. Whatever is practical and available. Unless I have specific requirements, I cannot say what I would choose.

Regards,
Bob Received on Sun Jul 22 2001 - 01:29:00 CEST