Manifesto for Improved Foundations of Relational Model

TL;DR

This paper advocates for extending the relational model with inherited attributes to better reflect real-world data, simplify queries, and evolve database systems for broader practical benefits.

Contribution

It proposes a new approach to relational modeling by incorporating inherited attributes, enhancing expressiveness and simplifying database implementation.

Findings

Extended relations can be more faithful to reality.

Inherited attributes support logical navigation free queries.

Implementation on popular DBMSs appears straightforward.

Abstract

Normalized relations extended with inherited attributes can be more faithful to reality and support logical navigation free queries, properties available at present only through specific views. Adding inherited attributes can be nonetheless always less procedural than to define any such views. Present schemes should even typically suffice for relations with foreign keys. Implementing extended relations on popular DBSs appears also simple. Relational model should evolve accordingly, for benefit of likely millions of DBAs, clients, developers.