Re: What are we asking of a data model?

Bob Badour wrote:

> "SPeacock" <Xpeacock_at_pacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:4001BE3B.3BFF4B97_at_pacbell.net...
> >
> > "Dawn M. Wolthuis" wrote:
> >
> > > I'm sure we cannot get unanimous agreement on this, but can we get a
> good
> > > statement of what it is we are trying to accomplish with a data model?
> > >
> > > For example, it seems that some are asking a question such as "What
> > > mathematical model for structuring data is the simplest we can find for
> > > hosting predicates and related propositions?" (and I'm sure someone
> else
> > > can word that better, so please take a crack at it)
> > >
> > > while others are asking: "which data model is most likely to yield
> database
> > > implementations that are the most cost-effective for the development and
> > > on-going maintenance of software applications?" (again, not a
> > > perfectly-stated question).
> > >
> > > I am looking for answers to the latter question. My interest is in data
> > > models whose implementations yield software developer productivity both
> with
> > > initial development of applications and on-going support.
> > >
> > > If we were able to set up a contest to collect emperical evidence from
> > > various data model implementations and how they relates to developer
> > > productivity, would that have any bearing on this discussion or would
> some
> > > database theorists consider such scientific (emperical) data collection
> to
> > > be irrelevant to what they care about? I recognize that no
> implementation
> > > perfectly matches a mathematical model, so perhaps some are more
> interested
> > > in comparing only the models and not looking at what these models have
> to do
> > > with actual database implementations.
> > >
> > > Thanks for any insight you can give on this. --dawn
> >
> > The main purpose for a data model is to represent the relationships
> between
> > data.
>
> SPeacock, you are as stupid and ignorant as Dawn. You deserve each other.
> plonk
>
> For the others out there, see what Codd wrote regarding the purpose of a
> data model a couple decades ago and ignore these bozos.

Well, Bob, glad we got that cleared up between us.

Codd was out of date a couple of decades ago, let alone now.

A lot of bright people and a lot of money has been spent on trying to build a data model supporting a relational technology that could even integrated data from diverse systems. If it could have been done it would have. Received on Tue Jan 13 2004 - 06:53:23 CET