Author Description

This book is the fifth in Chris Date's well known Relational DatabaseWritings series. Like its precursors, the book consists of acollection of papers on various aspects of relational technology. Itis divided into four parts:I.Theory is PracticalII.Relational Database ManagementIII.The Problem of Missing InformationIV.Relational vs. Nonrelational SystemsThis unique collection combines practical advice on how to solve realworld implementation problems with more thought-provoking andsometimes controversial articles. The first part consists ofinstallments from Chris Date's regular column in Database Programmingand Design magazine in which he takes a variety of theoretical aspectsof relational technology and explains, in a non-academic way, just whythose aspects are important and why they should be of interest to thedatabase practitioner. In Part II, Hugh Darwen and David McGoverancomment on the true nature of databases and on the status of attemptsto implement the relational model in the industry. There is also adetailed introduction to the ideas behind The Third Manifesto - thelogical foundation for object/relational databases - something everydatabase professional will want to read. Part III addresses the muchdiscussed but serious issue of missing information and provides a wellargued case for why many-valued logics are unsuitable as a basis foraddressing the problem. Finally, Part IV provides a critical andsometimes controversial analysis of object databases. In addition, anappendix contains the transcript for a live presentation entitled"Database Graffiti".Relational Database Writings 1994-1997 continues the traditionestablished by its predecessors and will need no furtherrecommendation for readers familiar with them. It is essential readingfor all serious database students and professionals.*The fifth in the series of books written by Chris Date on the general topic of database technology*Chris Date is renowned for his ability to explain complex technical material in a clear and understandable fashion*Should appeal to anyone working in the area of database technology from professional to academic*Covers articles he has written from 1994-1997 that he feels are worth preserving