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The best, although somewhat less than perfect, database that we know is
the human brain. I am sure that that is not normalised, at least mine
certainly isn't after a few beers. There is plenty of redundant data.
But, unlike most computer databases, it doesn't need to be shut down to
accomodate new types of data and no physical database design is
required. The brain is a "slow" mechanism, yet, in many areas, can
achieve results, such as recognising other human beings, that the
fastest supercomputer is no where near achieving.
The perfect solution doesn't exist - what matters is that the resulting
system meets initial end user needs and is able to evolve in line with
the ever changing real world of the end user. It must be stable and
scaleable and have very rapid performance.
Because of the limitations of existing databases, including RDMBS's, I
decided to develop a "Neural Database", that, since it defines its own
structure, can be changed whilst it is live. I have patented this.
No physical database design is required. Although the database is
always highly normalised, it can be created and changed by people with
no understanding of 3rd normal form. All data definitions, menus,
business rules, application definitions, etc., and the user data that
these define, are all stored in the same nine physical files. All have
the same structure and the same single key field. All are journalled.
No logical files are used. There is no limit to the amount of data that
can be stored in any "logical" record. The NDB can store both
hierarchical (up to 1 billion**2 levels) and network structures and
relationships, all totally integrated. Entities can belong to multiple
entity types. All attributes can have, by default, multiple iterations.
Attributes can store independent data, such as text, or relatonships.
There can be relationships at any level in an hierarchical structure so
there can be relationships with relationships. All relationships, by
default, are many to many, although one to many and many to one are also
possible. Everything is indexed so there are no joins. The NDB allows
the storage of both public and private data definitions and user data
and these can be mixed as desired.
The NDB drives a small set of kernel programs that read the NDB and
interpret the rules and data. They allow users to navigate
relationships or drill down through hierarchies or display directories
on the IFS. When new applications are created, no new files are
created. The kernel progams handle the interface, including HTML and
Javascript generation, the equivalent of triggers, etc. Commitment
control boundaries are defined in the NDB.
It is astonishingly simple, allows incremental development without a
detailed written specifcation, is largely self documenting and is
extremely productive for development and maintenance (e.g. 10 man months
work using traditional methods reduced to 2 hours). It has outstanding
performance and is very scaleable.
Many complex applications can be created without any program coding. No
code is generated (it is not a case tool) and mostly no new AS/400
objects are created. Security is outstanding and can be at the field
level. Security for the same data for the same user can be different in
different applications.
The biggest problem with existing methods is that, unlike the brain, the
rules are separated from the data and it is this that makes maintenance
such a nightmare.
I checked with David before posting this .
Rob Dixon
www.erros.co.uk
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