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Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: Your new book
Great comment. I believe your analogy to relational theory to be very apt.
Back when we were all in junior high and our teachers were drawing those
Venn diagrams on the board, we were probably thinking "When will I ever use
this stuff?". Personally, I use it every day. What you said about relational
databases lasting because they are based on mathematical truths is true, I
believe, and I would take it a step further. Understanding the principles of
relational algebra, specifically those that apply directly to relational
database theory, permits us to be far better practitioners. I know of many
database "experts" who purport that the "relational" in RDBMS represents
relating tables.
I also know of many very, very intelligent, I would say brilliant, people who have not taken the time to learn relational theory, and do not understand why they end up frustrated when they try to make their RDBMS work like it's part of a linked list in their C++ program. They fight against the very theory that would free them if they understood it and worked with it.
People pooh-pooh "theory", and in particular relational theory, because it's not "real world". I disagree wholeheartedly. The "theory" they pooh-pooh really equates to foundational principles. Like the principles of gravity. Those who make airplanes understand the principles involved very well. They don't fight against those truths. The use them to accomplish their goals. Their planes fly.
I'm looking forward to Cary's book precisely because of the reasons you mentioned.
Michael Milligan
Oracle DBA
Ingenix, Inc.
2525 Lake Park Blvd.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84120
wrk 801-982-3081
mbl 801-628-6058
michael.milligan_at_ingenix.com
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