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Databaseprogrammingis the process ofdeveloping data-intensiveapplications which demand the access to large amounts of structured, persistent data. The primary tool required for implementing such applications is a database programming language, namely aformal language which is specialized in the definition and manipulationof relevant large-scale data. As such, a database programming language is expected to provide high-level data modeling capabilitiesas well as avarietyofconstructs which facilitatethehandlingofthespecifieddata. Inthis perspective, the aim of this book is: (i) to present the recent advances in database technologyfrom theviewpointofthe novel database paradigmsproposedfor the developmentofadvanced, non-standard, data-intensive applications, (ii) to focus specificallyon the relational approach, with considerableemphasis on the extensions proposed in the last decade, and (iii) to describe the extended relational database languageAlgres which is primarily the outcome of research work conducted by the authorsincooperationwithalargenumberofothercolleaguesandstudents. Furthermore, in orderto put the concepts presented in the book into practice, the reader is invited to experiment with the Algres system, afree copyofwhich can be requestedfromKluwerAcademicPublishers,ordirectlyfromtheauthors. Dependingonthespecific interest andbackgroundofthereader,thebookcanserve either:(1) to overview recent trends in databases, (2) to introduce in more detail the concepts and theory of the nested relational model, or (3) to present a complete advancedrelationallanguagewhichcanbefreelyusedforexperimentalpurposeswithin academicandresearchframeworks.
List of contents
1. Introduction.- 1.1. Brief History of Database Technology.- 1.2. The Relational Approach.- 1.3. Data-Intensive Application Domains.- 1.4. Requirements of New Data-Intensive Applications.- 2. Overview Of Recent Evolution In Database Technology.- 2.1. Semantic Data Models.- 2.2. Functional Data Models.- 2.3. Temporal Databases.- 2.4. Extended Relational Databases.- 2.5. Deductive Databases.- 2.6. Object-Oriented Databases.- 2.7. Active Databases.- 3. Theory Of The Nested Relational Model.- 3.1. The Relational Data Model.- 3.2. Relational Algebra.- 3.3. Relational Calculus.- 3.4. Nested Relational Data Model.- 3.5. Extended Relational Algebra.- 3.6. Equivalence of Extended Relational Algebra Expressions.- 3.7. Extended Relational Calculus.- 3.8. Expressive Power: Comparing Algebra and Calculus.- 3.9. Taxonomy of Nested Relations.- 3.10. Further Extensions to the Nested Relational Model.- 4. Algres, An Extended Relational Database Programming Language.- 4.1. A Tour of Aigres.- 4.2. Rationale of Aigres Design.- 5. Programming In Algres.- 5.1. Constants, Identifiers, and Objects.- 5.2. Groups and Persistency.- 5.3. Operations.- 5.4. The Quantification Mechanism.- 5.5. Input-Output.- 5.6. Control structures and blocks.- 5.7. Subprograms.- 5.8. Links.- 5.9. Built in functions.- 5.10. Program Structure.- 6. Alice, The Application Program Interface Of Algres.- 6.1. A Tour of Alice.- 6.2. Guidelines for Writing Alice Programs.- 6.3. Programming in Alice.- 7. Algraph, The Graphical Interface Of Algres.- 7.1. Graphical Display.- 7.2. Graphical Read.- 7.3. Motif Interface for Input-Output.- 7.4. Schema Editor.- Appendix A: Syntax Of Algres.- Appendix B: Syntax Of Alice Operators.- Appendix C: Algres And Alice Keywords.- Appendix D: Installing And Using The Algres System.- Getting aFree Copy of the Aigres System.- Installing Aigres.- Using Aigres Commands.- Compiling and Executing Aigres Programs.- Compiling and Executing Alice Applications.- Editing Aigres Objects.
