Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!cfctech!teemc!ka3ovk!ki4pv!cdin-1!icdi10!fr From: fr@icdi10.UUCP (Fred Rump from home) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Information wanted on Db Vista Message-ID: <491@icdi10.UUCP> Date: 7 Nov 89 04:41:20 GMT References: <1989Oct11.141207.18348@kadsma.uucp> <17731@brunix.UUCP> <456@icdi10.UUCP> <18389@brunix.UUCP> <463@icdi10.UUCP> <335@cdin-1.UUCP> <309@atti07.ATT.COM> <16252@netnews.upenn.edu> Reply-To: fr@icdi10.UUCP (Fred Rump from home) Distribution: usa Organization: but normally @ Compudata Inc. Phila PA Lines: 109 In article <16252@netnews.upenn.edu> catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu (Tony Catone) writes: >In article <309@atti07.ATT.COM> mjm@atti07.ATT.COM (Michael Matthews x7776) writes: > >In article <335@cdin-1.UUCP> fred@cdin-1.UUCP (Fred Rump) writes: This is in request to summarize an article by Lan Barnes (a San Diego based free-lancer specializing in C and Database applications) appearing in the Nov issue of DBMS magazine. "Catching up to db_VISTA" 'The PC market is finally ready for a product that brings mainframe tools to micros' Barnes had apparently reviewed Vista back in 1984 and praised it as a coming smash hit. "I miscalculated ... because I ignored the reality of the marketplace. The mainframe people ... were ignoring micros." His premise is that the micro programmers were looking for ease and speed of implementation and found relational models usable without help from the stuffy mainframe people who wanted little to do with micros anyway. On the other hand the mainframers did not think a real database belonged on a toy micro and did nothing to implement real work in such environment. (We know the story) He claims a new class of customer/user has entered the marketplace now. They wish to use micros but find their needs far outstripping the traditional RDBMS packages available. These designers wish a migration path across a variety of operating systems and hardware configurations. They wish and expect the performance and portability only found in tight C code. MIS directors in corporate America supposedly have found all this and more in db_Vista. A lot of discussion comparing the relational model to the network model follows. He explains that Vista offers both the B-tree relational model and the network set linkage in the same database. He further explains how Vista handles the many-to-many relationship thru the use of an 'intersect' record that does nothing but point to its owners. A variety of real life examples are given to point out the ease of one versus the difficulty of the other. Vista's data dictionary is described as storing typical information about ownership, locations and relations of data fields, records and sets. Because page size is under programmer control (as is really everything) database optimization can be judiciously handled thru parameter selection. He then points out that development is not for the faint-hearted. That this can not be compared to dBASE or R:Base and is strictly for professionals. He calls them 'developers engaged in full life cycle production'. In this regard he refers to the included TIMS (Technical Information Management System) as an excellent on-line tutorial. The reviewer's own difficulties with Vista in developing a from-scratch Checkbook writing system as a test, he blames on the need to think completely different from years of work using relational model databases. The review finishes with a discussion of various available library routines for database revision, import and export, WKS C library for Lotus and Dbase III compatible file formats, and IDA the Interactive Database Administrator tools. The Multi-user aspects of Vista appeal to the Unix and DOS network developer thru the use of transaction logging with commit and rollback. A lockmanager permits complete programmer control of all locks to files, records or indexes. User ID's are stored along with transactions and timestamps for automatic recovery in case of a dataloss. db_Vista also offers transparent database distribution which essentially means that physical locations of data can be spread across various nodes on the network or different file servers. PROS and CONS "db_Vista's disadvantage as a database development tool is the source of its many advantages - it demands C programming. On the downside, this means that db_Vista is not easily accessible or appropriate for casual use. On the other hand, it means small, fast programs can utilize the myriad available excellent communications, windows, and just about anything else imaginable. db_Vista is fit for large custom projects, with a built-in migration path from DOS to most other significant operating systems. It is a professional tool with sound documentation and excellent company support. db_Vista deserves an unqualified recommendation for serious database program development." Raima's phone number is 800-327-2462 (fax 206-7471991) Bellevue, WA **** Notes by fr: As a user of this product we, understandably, had to justify its selection from available market choices. The reader may wonder what made us opt for this product. #1 As a software developer with an in-depth vertical, spreading the development cost across a maximized hardware/OS field was the primary selection criterion. #2, and a close second, was the control factor permitted by the use of source code. This offers freedom from the mutations of the market as long as we can manage to survive in it. #3 The technical capability of the Vista network/relational database suits itself to our idea of database design. (This may come from years of work on mainframe database systems. Perhaps home is where you cut your teeth.) #4 The price was right in that royalties or run times are history. #5 The availability of an enhanced SQL to provide ad hoc reports or screen listings. #6 Our application requires that data present itself implicitly to a neophyte user who assumes the computer should "know" what he/she wants. IE sorting is not an option. Data must already be linked his way somehow intuitively. Fred Rump -- This is my house. My castle will get started right after I finish with news. 26 Warren St. uucp: ...{bpa dsinc uunet}!cdin-1!icdi10!fr Beverly, NJ 08010 domain: fred@cdin-1.uu.net or icdi10!fr@cdin-1.uu.net 609-386-6846 "Freude... Alle Menschen werden Brueder..." - Schiller