Re: mV database tools

Surely the real strength of Pick, Unidata et al. is not so much the mv
fields (which can be relatively easily emulated using array types) but
the data dictionaries and the way the same field can be defined in
multiple ways (data formats) with different names, or that you can
create pseudo fields that are actually functions or correlatives?
However, these again are things that can be achieved in PostgreSQL, just
not in the same way.

Of course, PostgreSQL's array types are multidimensional whereas iirc
you are limited to values & subvalues in most Pick-like DBs and even
then support for subvalues in 4GLs such as SB+ is limited.

Regards, Dave.

-----Original Message-----
From: Arthur(at)LinkLine(dot)com [mailto:arthur(at)linkline(dot)com]
Sent: 01 May 2002 19:37
To: PostGreSQL Hackers
Subject: mV database tools


Dear Team,

I have been monitoring this list for quite some time now and
have been studying PostGreSQL for a while. I also did some internet
research on the subject of "multi valued" database theory. I know that
this is the basis for the "Pick" database system, FileMaker Pro, "D3",
and a few other database systems. After carefully reviewing the
theoretical arguments in favor of this type of database, I am thoroughly
convinced that there are certain advantages to it that will never be
matched by a traditional "relational database".

I won't waste your time in reviewing the technical advantages
here, because you can do your own research. However, I will say that it
is obvious to me that an mV database will be an integral part of any
truly practical AI robotics system. It will probably be necessary to
"marry" the technologies of both relational databases and mV databases
in such a system.

IMHO, this is something that you, as the leaders in the most
advanced database system ever developed, should carefully consider. The
Linux community needs to be aware of the special advantages that an mV
database offers, the way to interface an mV system with a traditional
RDBMS, and the potential application theory as it relates to AI systems.

We, as a community of leaders in GPL'd software need to make
sure that this technology is part of the "knowledge base" of our
community. Thanks for listening.

Arthur