Re: Dreaming About Redesigning SQL

"Patrick K. O'Brien" <pobrien_at_orbtech.com> wrote in message news:m265ixf4fe.fsf_at_orbtech.com...
> lauri.pietarinen_at_atbusiness.com (Lauri Pietarinen) writes:
> > In 1974 there was the BIG DEBATE where Codd defended the RM against
> > network guys. I wonder if there is a transcript available?
> >
> > I think one of Codds arguments was that the number of manipulative
> > operators needed in the RM (i.e. insert, update, delete) was much
> > lower than in CODASYL (connect, disconnect, etc etc...)
>
> Any arguments that are true about CODASYL are not necessarily true
> about current ODBMSs, in spite of the fact that they both could be
> described as implementing a network model. I have also tried to find
> information about the weaknesses of the network model and have not
> found much of value.

I think part of the problem is that as the arguments are so old, there is not much on line. However, this article by Chris Date on the subject of the 'great debate' is probably more than sufficient.

http://www.intelligententerprise.com/db_area/archives/1999/991105/online2.shtml

and it include this rather nice summary...

        CODASYL relational
      GO TO 15 0
      PERFORM UNTIL 1 0
      currency indicators 10 0
      IF 12 0
      FIND 9 0
      GET 4 1
      STORE / PUT 2 1
      MODIFY 1 0
      MOVE CURRENCY 4 0
      other MOVEs 9 1
      SUPPRESS CURRENCY 4 0
      total statements > 60   3

Regards
Paul Vernon
Business Intelligence, IBM Global Services Received on Mon Oct 13 2003 - 20:07:16 CEST