Re: abstract data types?

Mr. Reid,

> To answer your question, it is a bit hard to say at the moment as the
> design schema for our project has only just been started. The draft
> versions of the ISO standard that I have seen use an object oriented
> data model, so to me it makes sense to try and keep the database schema
> as close as possible to this (minimise data impedance).
>
> Briefly, at its' simplest the schema will probably use a two tier approach.
<snip>

Let me preface this by saying that I know squat-all about building
geometric databases. My background is in db's for accounting, billing,
scheduling, and fundraising.

Given that .., over the last 3 months, I have become a believer in C.J.
Date and Fabian Pascal, who point out quite a few ways that
object-oriented and relational approaches to data problems *cannot* be
made to reconcile. See http://www.firstsql.com/dbdebunk for some
examples of their objections.

Of course, Date and Pascal reject Object Oriented approaches entirely,
something I'm not ready to do ... but I do see that trying to build a
database accessable to both a range of OODB tools and relationally
compliant is not achievable.

-Josh Berkus

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