Re: Thoughs after discussions at OSCON

elein wrote:

>
>
>Lack of understanding of relational modelling is a big problem.
>People design there databases w/application centric enforcements
>which play well on mysql but violates Date's central rule about
>relational databases: the integrity of the data is defined in the
>database and cannot be circumvented by applications.
>
>
>
I hate to sound extremely pessimistic here but I don't really think that
this is the problem, having had this discussion with many people who
should know better or at least have CS degrees (which I don't have).
This also serves to explain the success of MySQL.

The problem is pervasive in both proprietary and open source apps
because the developer sees the RDBMS merely as a simple data store for
his/her application.  The idea that the database might serve several
apps never occurs to them.  Hence it makes real sense to put as much
logic into the application level as possible because if you put it in
the database, then that makes more work if you have to switch RDBMS's.

So MySQL works fine when people see it as basically an SQL interface for
a set of application resources possibly residing on another system.  It
is "good enough" for this.

But the problem is only masked in this situation.  The RDBMS is an
incredibly powerful tool for application integration.  However, this is
often not in the best interests of the developers who would rather lock
you into their program.  Therefore an app-specific database design makes
economic sense.

The only people that get hurt by this are the customers.  So again,
making connections to businesses so that we get a chance to explain
ourselves is the only way we will be able to compete.

Best Wishes,
Chris Travers
Metatron Technology Consulting