Foundation for Object / Relational Databases: The Third Manifesto

Second Edition now available! A detailed study of the impact of objects and type theory on the relational model of data, including a comprehensive proposal for type inheritance "This is the first attempt to describe what object/relational means. If you're interested in object/relational technology, this is the book to read." --Rick van der Lans Independent consultant, author of Introduction to SQL, and past member of the Dutch committee responsible for developing the International SQL Standard "This book is an excellent piece of work. It is very rare in computer science to come across a book that provides such a complete and precise theory that is systematically presented and compared to all of the other work in the area. Even those who find the conclusions controversial will admire this thoroughness." --Rick Cattell ODMG Chair, author of Object Data Management and JDBC Database Access with Java, and co-editor of the Object Database Standard: ODMG 2.0 Foundation for Object/Relational Databases: The Third Manifesto is a proposal for the future direction of data and database management systems (DBMSs). It consists of a precise, formal definition of an abstract model of data, to be considered as a blueprint for the design of a DBMS and a database language. In particular, it provides a rock-solid foundation for integrating relational and object technologies, a foundation conspicuously lacking in current approaches to such integration. The proposed foundation represents an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one. It builds on Codd's relational model of data and on the research that resulted from that work. Most notably, it incorporates a precise and comprehensive specification for a method of defining data types, including a comprehensive model of type inheritance, to address a lack that has been observed by many authorities; thus, it also builds on research in the field of object orientation. With a sound footing in both camps of the object/relational divide, the Manifesto is offered as a firm foundation for true object/relational DBMSs. The authors combine precision and thoroughness of exposition with the approachability that readers familiar with their previous publications will recognize and welcome. This book is essential reading for database students and professionals alike. Hugh Darwen has been involved in software development since 1967 as an employee of IBM United Kingdom Ltd. He has been active in the relational database arena since 1978, and was one of the chief architects and developers of an IBM relational product called Business System 12--a product that faithfully embraced the principles of the relational model. His writings include notable contributions to Date's Relational Database Writings series (Addison-Wesley, 1990, 1992) and A Guide to the SQL Standard (4th edition, Addison-Wesley, 1997). He has been an active participant in the development of SQL international standards since 1988. C.J. Date is an independent consultant, author, lecturer, and researcher specializing in relational database systems. He was one of the first persons to recognize and support Codd's pioneering work on the relational model. Mr. Date was also involved in technical planning for the IBM products SQL/DS and DB2. He is best known for his books, in particular An Introduction to Database Systems (6th edition, Addison-Wesley, 1996), which has sold well over half a million copies worldwide. 0201309785B04062001