On enforcing function diagram commutativity and anti-commutativity constraints in MatBase

TL;DR

This paper introduces algorithms for automatically enforcing function diagram commutativity and anti-commutativity constraints within the MatBase system, facilitating constraint-driven database design and code generation for various platforms.

Contribution

It presents novel algorithms for enforcing specific mathematical constraints in databases and demonstrates their implementation in the MatBase system across multiple software environments.

Findings

Algorithms successfully enforce constraints in MatBase

Automatic code generation for constraint enforcement

Application to Geography database example

Abstract

Presented are algorithms for enforcing function diagram commutativity and anti-commutativity database constraints, using the database software application constraint-driven design and development methodology, in the realm of the (Elementary) Mathematical Data Model ((E)MDM). MatBase, an intelligent data and knowledge management system prototype mainly based on the (E)MDM, uses these algorithms to automatically generate corresponding code in both its versions (i.e., the MS Access and the .NET and SQL Server ones). Of course, any software developer may also use these algorithms manually. The paper also discusses the code generated to enforce two such constraints from a Geography database.