None (mail relay)
es.theory, comp.databases.xbase.fox, comp.databases.xbase.misc, comp.databases Subject: RFD: FAQ for comp.databases and comp.databases.theory References: comp.databases. Followup-To: comp.databases Message-ID: <401776564wnr@carrot.demon.co.uk> Date: Monday, Apr 17, 1995 08.54.47 Organization: None Reply-To: Richard@carrot.demon.co.uk X-Newsreader: Newswin Alpha 0.7 Lines: 78 Ok, this is a determined effort to get a FAQ going for two of the groups in the comp.databases heirarchy. Please lets have comments. I've set follow-ups to comp.databases - Please direct your comments there if your newsreader doesn't do that automatically. I've been a reader of these two groups for some time, and occasional poster.Yet I've not seen a FAQ for them - Is there anybody out there who would be interested in compiling suchan item(s)? I hope I don't tread on any toes when I try and summarise what I think is needed: * Comp.databases is innundated with requests for information on 'which database should I use?', so could benefit with some decent summaries of each of the offerings for different environments to cut back on the number of such postings, and also to direct people to the right group * Comp.databases.theory has a fair few requests for information and books, so a good book list would be useful, as a fair amount of conversation goes on about certain (I'll not use the word obscure!) areas of databases not of interest to new comers to the area, and the requests seem to go largerly ignored by the knowledgable masses. * A decent reference section of significant papers could be good, for researchers, so Codd's original and subsequent, One or two Stonebrakers for good measure, and a small sprinkling of Dates' wouldn't go amiss, as well as the other important, but not so main stream areas such as concurrency, access path, query, object orientated db's etc. Maybe pointers to any electronic versions, such as the INGRES paper I've seen floating about. I've got a funny feeling I'm nominating myself (I don't intend to, but if nobody else will...) for this task, but I'm snowed under with studies at the moment, and have a couple of other Internet responsibilities, and only dial up every now and then (All though I have my University account, its not quite as flexible). So, before anything happens, a decent discussion is needed on what should appear in the FAQ(s), who should maintain it, what frequency they should be posted, and so on. So, I'd suggest, to start the ball rolling: Two FAQ's, one for comp.databases, one for comp.databases.theory Comp.databases should cover applications in general, and give more detail about the comp.database heirarchy, but perhaps give a brief summary of the major offerings - The FAQ's for the other groups are probably best butchered for this, rather than a new effort. Comp.databases.theory should cover references, and provide pointers to where information can be found, and attempt to answer the FAQ for the group. I'd suggest a posting every couple of weeks for comp.databases, and once a month for comp.databases.theory And I'd suggest somebody (volunteers, PLEEEASE) with more time, who's fairly knowledgable on the subjects to maintain them... Please, lets get something going... Tear my proposals to pieces if you want, but lets get something there... Regards, Richard. -- +------------------------------------+-------------------------------+ |Richard Leyton | | |E-Mail : richard@carrot.demon.co.uk | :o) | |Phone : +44 (0)1865 727241 | | +------------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | My home page: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/~91142810/home.html | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+