Re: Dreaming About Redesigning SQL

"Lauri Pietarinen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Bob Badour wrote:
>
> >"Lauri Pietarinen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> >news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >>So my guess why many programmers dislike SQL (and hence, databases) is
> >>that they have to deal with two different paradigms.
> >
> >If by "paradigm" you mean: "A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and
> >practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community
that
> >shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline"
> >(http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=paradigm), then I suggest we
> >consider that programming and database management exist within a single
> >paradigm of computing.
> >
> >SQL does not exist within a separate paradigm so much as it represents a
> >different computational model.
> >
> Well, however you want to call it. SQL (or relational) represents a
> different way of thinking.

In my experience, effective programming requires exactly the same way of
thinking effective data management requires. For instance, to programme
effectively, one must start from "What do I want the computer to do?" and
then work toward "How do I get the computer to do it?"

Perhaps some of the better thinkers in c.d.t like Vadim/Mikito and Jan could
voice an opinion? Do you think programming represents a different "paradigm"
from data management according to the definition above?


> >>We end up with
> >>J2EE, where everyting becomes a bean of some kind and we hide simple
> >>SQL in the beans without leveraging the power of the DB.  Guess what -
> >>we get performance problems!!
> >>
> >>Or we end up with programmers building their own DBMS'es so as to at
> >>least get an illusion of unification.
> >
> >Ignorance, laziness and stupidity cause far worse problems, but ignorance
> >tends to mask the problems to those most affected.
> >
> >>Now, the alternative COULD be to widen the domain of the DMBS.
> >
> >Instead of widening the dbms, consider applying the dbms's computational
> >model to a wider scope of problems.
> >
> Yes, thanks for clarifying.  That's what I meant.

I observe that the ability to apply the dbms's computational model to a
wider scope of problems suggests a single paradigm.