From: ES

To: Editor

Date: Oct 24, 2003

 

 

I am considering lecture of some of those books your site mentions. More specifically: the TEMPORAL DATA" book, the MANIFESTO, the RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AND REVIEW and the INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE SYSTEMS.

 

The goal being to more thoroughly understand what it is that I have been doing for the past 20 years or so.  Or, more accurately: a better understanding of what it is (supposed to be) built upon, and hence, a better insight in where I have been right or wrong doing things this or that way.  And, toward the future: find (a base for) true solid arguments to back up my suspicions against all these emerging so-called "new" technologies (which seldom yield true added value, because they are seldom based on a sound and thorough analysis of what exactly the "problem" is they claim to be solving).

 

Anyway.  I have no notions of relational algebra, I only know it exists. When I see these worked-out examples by Chris (oops, sorry, Mr. Date), I only understand them to the degree where I can "translate" it into an SQL "equivalent" (which is seldom obvious and for obvious reasons also error-prone).  These being the facts:

 

1) Do I need better understanding of relational algebra (and its syntax) before buying these books can be useful?

2) Does any of these books have a sufficiently thorough introduction to relational algebra (and its syntax) to help me get through or do I need   yet another source for that?  If so, any suggestions?

3) Is there any specific order you recommend in these readings?  Are   there any changes to this list you would recommend?

 

PS: The TEMPORAL DATA might seem to be a bit offspring to the purposes I mentioned.  I'm interested in it, because it seems to be on a subject that has caused a lot of argument in one of the projects I formerly worked on. Regrettably, everyone involved there saw things "his own way", but no one could come up with "external" scientific material to back up their reasoning.  I hope have found--at last--the "external" materials we then needed.

 

 

From: Fabian Pascal

To: ES

 

1.      No, but it would not hurt. Suggest you get to it after you read the basics. Start with the INTRO, then my book, then the READINGS series and only then the other two you mention, unless you have a very specific interest in temporal databases. The MANIFESTO book is more intended for DBMS designers and harder to read.

 

2.      The INTRO does, but it's not that thorough. You will need a specialized book on that. Those are by logicians and they're not easy to read--logicians are infamous for not expressing themselves in comprehensible ways (shoemaker wears bad shoes!) If you reach that point, I can provide a couple of sources.

 

3.      See 1.

 

 

Posted 01/30/04.