[Info-vax] a cool database... as replacement for RMS index-sequential files:: Was: VSI working on alternatives to Oracle Classic database:

[Dave Froble]

On 1/20/2021 12:06 PM, gérard Calliet wrote:
> Le 20/01/2021 à 16:40, Arne Vajhøj a écrit :
>> For an existing VMS application then converting is most likely a good
>> thing in the long perspective, but since it means changes, then
>> it needs some analysis on when to do it.
> My question is just about that.
>
> I received a lot of opinions about conversion from applications based on
> indexed-sequential to relational database which are saying it represents
> a huge structural transformation, because of the very different
> philosophies (for example about how to normalize, how to deal with cobol
> redefines or occurs clauses, etc,...).
>
> I think there are been a lot of work done on that in the mainframe
> environments, and a lot of commercial proposals. It seems they are
> dealing with non trivial issues.
>
> But perhaps something can be done and there are innovative methods for
> that. I have not a definitive opinion on that. And because of what you
> have told, I was a little bit curious.
>
> Gérard Calliet
>

Well I do have at least one experience doing such, and what happened was 
that the old app was used as a guide, the new app was pretty much 
totally re-written.

When the basic structure of an app is written around the requirements 
for database access, and the new database concepts are totally 
different, there is no possibility of making "small" changes.

In many cases, it's truly a case of throwing out the baby with the bath 
water.

Arne and others can talk about concepts, but the actual doing most 
likely will not fit well with their ideas.

Just my experience.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486