HP3000-L Archives

March 2001, Week 2

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Subject:
From:
"Shahan, Ray" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Shahan, Ray
Date:
Thu, 8 Mar 2001 06:44:53 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (162 lines)
Given 2 programmers, 1 for IMAGE and 1 for an RDMS, and that both
programmers are very skilled at their craft:

Try coding an SQL call for several tables/indexes using 'inner/outer joins'
that also require some 'where not exists', and then maybe one or two 'or'
conditions sprinkled with a juicy 'and' relation...not only is it more
difficult to code, but It's sure to kill the machine, any machine...every
time.

I know some of you will answer that IMAGE will run slow too, given all the
same paths, and you'd be right, but it wouldn't run near as slow...not even
close.

Ray Shaman

        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Richard Gambrell [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent:   Wednesday, March 07, 2001 6:38 PM
        To:     [log in to unmask]
        Subject:        Re: Expensive RDBM Systems (Oracle)

        Mark Boyd wrote:
        >
        > "it is simpler to use than Image"
        >
        > A BIGGER crock of Crapola(tm), I haven't heard since my wedding
vows.
        > NOTHING is easier to use than Image.

        Each to his/her own, but from what I've observed, the basic
        concepts of SQL and it's syntax are easier to learn to use for
        data adds, updates, and retrievals.  Advanced ideas and proprietary
        extensions are another story.  Oracle is far, far, harder to
        administer than an Image database.  I'm specifically addressing
        the question of programming an application when I claim that SQL
        is simpler to use.

        Image has a SQL interface. How many people use it?  Why or Why not?

        >
        > "the cost/performance "curve" seems to be favoring SQL more and
more"
        >
        > A bigger crock of Crapola(tm), I haven't heard since someone said
"SQL was
        > simpler to use than Image". The only performance curve I've seen
with SPL is
        > downward.  I'm currently babysitting an SQL app that is averaging
3
        > transactions per second with a maximum speed of 194 transactions
per second.
        > These are inserts, updates and deletes that are transferred from
our hp.
        > Our pimply-faced gurus downstairs have upgraded the server,
rebuilt the
        > server, reinstalled the software, upgraded the software and can't
get any
        > more speed out of it.
        >

        Is this on Oracle?  Poorly written applications can be written in
        any language and use any DBMS (or other data storage).  Sounds like
        your "gurus" aren't really analyzing the source of the problem and
        instead are just throwing things at the problem.  A missing index,
        badly written SQL queries, and insufficient database buffers can
kill
        Oracle performance, just like a missing key, a bad strategy for
        retrieval, or insufficient memory can kill Image performance.

        Believe me, I've had my fill of badly written RDBMS applications,
        too. The hp3000-l archives contain messages about our observations
        of performance comparisons. A statement job that take hours on
        Oracle vs minutes on MPE.

        The real question is how hard it is to learn to design and write
        reasonably performing applications using SQL vs using Image, plus
the
        cost of the hardware needed for equivalent performance.  How hard
        is it to get reasonable web applications up and running.

        Richard

        > * Crapola is a registered trademark of Microsoft Inc.
        >
        > -----Original Message-----
        > From: Richard Gambrell [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
        > Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2001 3:28 PM
        > To: [log in to unmask]
        > Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] Expensive RDBM Systems (Oracle)
        >
        > "James B. Byrne" wrote:
        > >
        > > On 7 Mar 2001, at 15:41, [log in to unmask] wrote:
        > >
        > > > This has actually been a 25-year-long running argument.
Personally,
        > > > I'm on both sides of the argument at the same time and could
argue the
        > > > merits on either side with equal conviction.
        > > >
        > >
        > >  It is the same with me.  But recently I have begun to lean more
and
        > > more to the data management side.
        > >
        >
        > This is a fruit to vegetables type of comparison.  At the core, we
        > need a strong file system supported by the operating system,
        > then a transaction management journalizing system,
        > then a database system,
        > then a data management/dictionary system, etc.
        > MPE has the first 3, but the data management layer is weak.
        >
        > However, we also have a world that knows SQL, maybe not well, but
        > nonetheless it is simpler to use than Image.  With cheaper
hardware
        > and more expensive programmers, the cost/performance "curve"
        > seems to be favoring SQL more and more.   Poor SQL coding can
        > bring a system to it's knees, but so can poor Image coding or
        > design.
        >
        > Note that Oracle offers a number of data management features
        > on top of the database, but you pay a *lot* for these features.
        >
        > Note that things like stored procedures and triggers are
        > proprietary (pl/sql), just like Image calls.
        > SQL is not proprietary.
        >
        > Richard
        >
        > > Regards,
        > > Jim
        > > ---   *** e-mail is not a secure channel ***
        > > James B. Byrne                Harte & Lyne Limited
        > > vox: +1 905 561 1241          9 Brockley Drive
        > > fax: +1 905 561 0757          Hamilton, Ontario
        > > mailto:[log in to unmask]  Canada L8E 3C3
        >
        > --
        > Richard L Gambrell, Director of Computing Systems and Networks
        > Information Technology Division
        > University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
        > 103 Hunter Hall, Department Code 4454
        > 615 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
        > voice mail/cell phone: 423-432-5122
        > private e-mail: [log in to unmask]
        > UTC fax: 423-755-4150
        > UTC phone: 423-755-4551
        > UTC email: [log in to unmask]

        --
        Richard L Gambrell, Director of Computing Systems and Networks
        Information Technology Division
        University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
        103 Hunter Hall, Department Code 4454
        615 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
        voice mail/cell phone: 423-432-5122
        private e-mail: [log in to unmask]
        UTC fax: 423-755-4150
        UTC phone: 423-755-4551
        UTC email: [log in to unmask]

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