Deductive database languages

Abstract

Deductive databases result from the integration of relational database and logic programming techniques. However, significant problems remain inherent in this simple synthesis from the language point of view. In this paper, we discuss these problems from four different aspects: complex values, object orientation, higherorderness, and updates. In each case, we examine four typical languages that address the corresponding issues.

Advanced query language for manipulating complex entities

“…The notion of v ariable in our query language was borrowed from deductive databases (e.g., Liu, 1999 …”

Multidimensional Data Model and Query Language for Informetrics

“…Our language is based on the notion of variable of logic programming (see, e.g., Sterling & Shapiro, 1994) and deductive databases (see, e.g., Liu, 1999). This notion offers a straightforward, flexible and intuitive way to specify complex multidimensional queries.…”

“…Because the user is responsible for this navigation it is desirable that the user can express navigation in a natural way. We borrow the notion of variable from deductive databases (see, e.g., Liu, 1999) and show that it allows intuitive navigation. To our knowledge, our query language is the first to use this kind of a notion of variable for specifying multidimensional queries.…”

The furniture company: deductive databases and the scheduling problem

“…Many of the prototype deductive databases were developed under unrealistic assumptions: some were memory-based where temporary relations (if they were small enough) resided in memory; some assumed a single-user; some did not support transaction processing, triggers, or integrity constraints. Also, deductive database languages such as complex-value deductive languages (LDL, Datalog, Hilog, and Relationlog) and objectoriented deductive languages (O-Logic, F-Logic, ROL, and IQL) (Liu, 1999) are not ''computationally complete,'' do not offer support for unknown or null values, and do not fully support methods and encapsulation features in Object Oriented Design (Liu, Dobbie, & Ling, 2002). More research is needed in adapting deductive database languages and systems to the features common in relational databases, including the notion of ''schema,'' which is not fully supported by deductive database languages (since Prolog is not a ''typed'' language), as well as problems relating to integrity constraints in a deductive database in which a single addition or deletion may cause many implicit additions and deletions.…”