Re: dbms/rdbms software & its environment

[Quoted] "mountain man" <hobbit_at_southern_seaweed.com.op> wrote in message [[ Stuff Removed ]]
>
> A computer system run by any general large organisation consists of
> a number of inter-related parts the most important being the database
> engine (dbms/rdbms) which is at the heart of the organisational
> intelligence assembly.
>
> One would expect database theory should say something concerning
> how the dbms/rdbms sits within another "external" (horror!) environment
> and how it relates to other software in the environment, particularly
> the nature of any associated application system software.

The whole point of any model (irrespective of the field of study) is to allow all external systems using it to have a standardised means of using it. Certainly, the Relational Database Model (from Codd, Date, Darwen, st al) is intended to provide a systematic means of looking at data so that every user and application within or without the organisation in question can access it in an uniform manner. How the actual RDBMS is implemented is irrelevant to the manner of obtaining information from it or placing information into it. If a better implemenation is found, then the RDBMS is changed with no impact on the surrounding systems. Relational database theoty is about how to manage your data in a manner that is correct, complete and safe.

I have seen too many databases that allow you to disregard the business rules and data integrity rules, as well as allowing inappropriately duplicated information that eventually gets so out of sync that noone knows what is true and what is false. Having spent a long time in analysing and finding the correct information and then not having any way to have the stored information to be corrected, I find it frustrating that people still insist on not using the appropriate knowledge to alleviate this humungous problem.

From my perspective (in a business sense), anyone who advocates any process, methodology or model that doesn't have a firm foundation is either

a). ignorant of the problems that can and do arise
b). a used car salesman after a quick buck
c). couldn't care less about the consequences
d). should be doing something else more useful for everyone else
e). hasn't yet had the oppotunity to get better educated

I look forward to the time in a few short years when I no longer will have to clean up the mess that has been foisted on the world by those in the IT industry who have their agendas that are intended to pad their own pockets at the expence of everyone else. I am thankful that there are people of integrity in this industry - I just wish that there were more.

The worst aspect of the IT industry (particularly the DB side of it) is that due to those who are dishonourable, the rest of us get the short end of the stick and are treated as .....

>
> However the experts appear strangely silent on the matter, preferring
> to remain undividedly focused only on the engine component of the
> overall assembly. Is this a fair comment?

Relational database theory doesn't actually look at the engine but at the interface between the engine and the rest of the environment.

>
> How is this going to solve problems associated with the relationship
> between the database engine (dbms/rdbms) and the overall assembly
> (ie: the generic organisation's entire computer systems software concert)
>

The relationship between any two systems in any organisation are at the mercy of the political influences within the organisation at any time. This is not a matter for theory.

>
> > I would say these "astute" posters have a fine grasp of the obvious.
>
>
> We'll see.

Just don't expect many of the major commercial interests to make any changes until their customers realise that there is something better and that will only come with appropriate education. Received on Thu Oct 30 2003 - 05:12:29 CET