Right tool for the right job. Thinking RDBMS is a silver bullet is just as bad as thinking a document database is a silver bullet. There is room in the world for both.
but we're not talking about silver bullets: we're talking about models which let you derive most information from your data. mathematics says you will get the most bang for your buck from the relational model.
if you like hierarchical databases (data trees), consider that relational database gives you a forest: you can treat any datum as your tree root and bloom from there. with hierarchical, you're tied to a single pre-designated root.
both relational and hierarchical databases let you go from department to employee, only one lets you go from employee to their department without enumeration. what purpose does precluding the latter serve?
ta0967|9 years ago
if you like hierarchical databases (data trees), consider that relational database gives you a forest: you can treat any datum as your tree root and bloom from there. with hierarchical, you're tied to a single pre-designated root.
both relational and hierarchical databases let you go from department to employee, only one lets you go from employee to their department without enumeration. what purpose does precluding the latter serve?
electricEmu|9 years ago
I argue you ignored the silver bullet criticism and then immediately doubled down on SQL as the silver bullet.