What Can We Do to Strengthen the Connection Between Theory and System Builders.

Arnon Rosenthal: What Can We Do to Strengthen the Connection Between Theory and System Builders. SIGMOD Conference 1992: 101

@inproceedings{DBLP:conf/sigmod/Rosenthal92,
  author    = {Arnon Rosenthal},
  editor    = {Michael Stonebraker},
  title     = {What Can We Do to Strengthen the Connection Between Theory and
               System Builders},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1992 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on
               Management of Data, San Diego, California, June 2-5, 1992},
  publisher = {ACM Press},
  year      = {1992},
  pages     = {101},
  ee        = {http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/130283.277953, db/conf/sigmod/Rosenthal92.html},
  crossref  = {DBLP:conf/sigmod/92},
  bibsource = {DBLP, http://dblp.uni-trier.de}
}

Abstract

Panelists:

Arnon Rosenthal, the MITRE Corp., Chair
Jack A. Orenstein, Object Design, Inc.
Abraham Silberschatz, University of Texas
Marjorie Templeton, Data Integration Inc.
Jeffrey D. Ullman, Stanford University
Vincent Ventrone, the MITRE Corp.

The perception, and perhaps reality, is that database theory too rarely aids system-builders, and hence is a bad place to invest resources. While theoretical paradigms from mathematics receive priority, implementation efforts suffer from a lack of adequate, relevant theoretical models. Simultaneously, young theoreticans are being pushed unwillingly into jobs that don't utilize their academic skills. Support will increase only if more database theory is seen to impact real systems.

We will seek constructive suggestions that do not require that theoreticans change their stripes, or that system-builders become contemplative. We do not expect the following to change:

researchers' preferred involvement in technology transfer:
"In a bacon and egg breakfast, the chicken is involved, but only the pig is committed."
dependence on better educated end users and system developers:
"We will improve Georgia's prisons when we get a better class of people in them" ... Gov. Lester Maddox
dependence on theoreticans who are better aware of practice:
<<See previous quote>>

We will describe experiences in applying theory, and briefly discuss measures to improve communications and provide appropriate incentives. In addition, we will examine how the theretical researchs' paradigms might be expanded, identifying generic theoretical questions whose answers system-builders can too rarely find in the literature. For example, tool builders would like developers of new database design algorithms to examine how the algorithm will behave if users should supply erroneous or incomplete input.

Copyright © 1992 by the ACM, Inc., used by permission. Permission to make digital or hard copies is granted provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or direct commercial advantage, and that copies show this notice on the first page or initial screen of a display along with the full citation.

ACM SIGMOD Anthology

Online Version (ACM WWW Account required): Full Text in PDF Format

CDROM Version: Load the CDROM "Volume 1 Issue 2, SIGMOD '75-'92" and ...

Windows: Click the letter of your CD drive
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mac: Click here
UNIX/LINUX: mount the CD and click on the path of your mount point:
/Anthology/smod7592 or /cdrom

DVD Version: Load ACM SIGMOD Anthology DVD 1" and ...

Windows: Click the letter of your CD drive
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mac: Click here
UNIX/LINUX: mount the DVD and click on the path of your mount point:
/Anthology/aDVD1 or /dvd

Printed Edition

Michael Stonebraker (Ed.): Proceedings of the 1992 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of Data, San Diego, California, June 2-5, 1992. ACM Press 1992

, SIGMOD Record 21(2), June 1992
Contents

Last update Thu May 24 04:43:22 2012 CET by the DBLP Team —

Data released under the ODC-BY 1.0 license — See also our legal information page