Re: Databases as objects

paul c wrote:
> Marshall wrote:
>> On Dec 21, 1:33 pm, Thomas Gagne <tga..._at_wide-open-west.com> wrote:
>>
>>> ... the
>>> database is an object, which should hide its data and only be used
>>> through its interface, just like they do with other objects in their
>>> models.
>>
>>
>> The interface to the database is the schema and SQL.
>> What do you think the interface is?
>> ...
>
> Would it be more precise to say the interface is purely relations
> (however they may be formed or expressed) or maybe relations as
> described by Codd?
SQL, relations, etc. are an interface to relational tables. But after I've customized a database to store my domain data I can move up the language tree and create macros that have a business purpose rather than SQL that has a relational purpose.

I could write an entire program with inlined C code and not use macros or functions. But functions improve modularity, readability, reliability, and reusability. Why wouldn't SQL benefit from the same organization?

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