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dateMore Than a Year Ago
subjectTheory
authorPat Helland

Data on the Outside versus Data on the Inside
From Communications of the ACM

Data on the Outside versus Data on the Inside

Data kept outside SQL has different characteristics from data kept inside.

The Best Place to Build a Subway
From Communications of the ACM

The Best Place to Build a Subway

Building projects despite (and because of) existing complex systems.

Space Time Discontinuum
From Communications of the ACM

Space Time Discontinuum

Combining data from many sources may cause painful delays.

Identity by Any Other Name
From Communications of the ACM

Identity by Any Other Name

The complex cacophony of intertwined systems.

Consistently Eventual
From Communications of the ACM

Consistently Eventual

For many data items, the work never settles on a value.

Side Effects, Front and Center
From Communications of the ACM

Side Effects, Front and Center

One system's side effect is another's meat and potatoes.

The Singular Success of SQL
From Communications of the ACM

The Singular Success of SQL

SQL has a brilliant future as a major figure in the pantheon of data representations.

Immutability Changes Everything
From Communications of the ACM

Immutability Changes Everything

We need it, we can afford it, and the time is now.

Idempotence Is Not a Medical Condition
From Communications of the ACM

Idempotence Is Not a Medical Condition

Messages may be retried. Idempotence means that's OK.

If You Have Too Much Data, Then 'Good Enough' Is Good Enough
From Communications of the ACM

If You Have Too Much Data, Then 'Good Enough' Is Good Enough

In today's humongous database systems, clarity may be relaxed, but business needs can still be met.
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